LAST NIGHT

Last night, I went to Indy for the Vouched Presents...Artifice Magazine reading. (Good job to the readers and the editors of this lovely magazine. Also, sweet job by Christopher Newgent for organizing this thing.) Last night, I bought "We Are All Good If They Try Hard Enough" by Mike Young (see above), along with the first two issues of Artifice and the new issue of Booth. (LOOK HOW HAPPY I AM TO HAVE THIS BOOK ON MY FACE) Last night, I watched Howl, and it was nice, not perfect, but yes very nice. (I don't watch many movies nowadays, so I feel like I can't say much about them beyond enjoy/not enjoy.) Last night, I stayed up until 6 am with three cool buds, dancing, laughing, and being cool. (THANK YOU YOU DONT KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO ME) Last night, I slept on one of those pals' couch, sleeping over at another person's for the first time in probably a year. (THANK YOU CODY YOU DONT KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO ME) Last night, I had a good time and now I'm tired. (LIVING WELL IS HARD WORK)

COME GET SOME

Next Tuesday, I am reading at this cool newish bar called Be Here Now here in Muncie. The line-up reads something like my top friends list, if that thing still existed.

I wrote this sestina in anticipation of this reading:

Welcome to the stage, Tyler
Welcome to the stage, Jeremy
Welcome to the stage, Layne
Welcome to the stage, Elysia
Welcome to the stage, Ashley
Welcome to the stage, Ryan

With a poem about poetry, Ryan
With a poem about babes, Tyler
With a story to twist you between laughing and crying, Ashley
With a poem about space and lightning, Jeremy
With a story about New Orleans, Elysia
With a poem about assholes, Layne

Oh walk with me, Layne
Oh drink with me, Ryan
Oh hug me, Elysia
Oh I’m Tyler
Oh talk with me, Jeremy
Oh dance for me, Ashley

There are moments when I need you, Ashley
There are moments when I need you, Layne
There are moments when I need you, Jeremy
There are moments when I need you, Ryan
There are moments when I need you, Tyler
There are moments when I need you, Elysia

Endearing Elysia
Absolutely Ashley
Tedious Tyler
Lovable Layne
Really Ryan
Good Job Jeremy

Let’s hear some applause for Jeremy
Let’s hear some applause for Elysia
Let’s hear some applause for Ryan
Let’s hear some applause for Ashley
Let’s hear some applause for Layne
Let’s hear some applause for Me

WE GETTING SERIOUS, Ryan, YOU KNOW THIS, Jeremy
STAND ASIDE, Tyler, AND LET US BE, Elysia
WE’VE GOT POWER, Ashley AND THE CHARM, Layne.

This reading is gonna rule. This Saturday is my birthday, and since I'll be in Bloomington all weekend for XRA Fest, I'll be celebrating with these cool Muncie people that night.

OH IVE GOT IDEAS OH IVE GOT SURPRISES

Two Quick Cool Things That I'm Involved In On The Web

1. Interview with the nice Brynn Saito at The Collagist Blog about her poem "17 Again."

2. Interview with me (I'll let you pick the adjective) at The BSU English Department Blog by Jeremy Bauer about The Writers Community.

HOLY WOAH THAT IS A LOT OF LINKS

On Stephen Dobyns

This guy has published lots of poems, novels, even a cool book of poetry essays.

I was stoked to find his book Cemetery Nights used (twice!) at bookstores in Denver. Denver must not like that book as much as I do, though I already have it in the pretty cool collection Velocities.

I bought one of the copies for Jeremy. I wish I would have gotten the other copy for someone.

I think Dobyns' poems will surprise people. Describing them is not like reading them. Narrative, strange imagination, in-line rhyming. Okay, well, maybe good. But yes, the majority of Dobyns' poems make me awestruck at the power of plain-spoken language.

But also, his use of questions sticks out to me, as I've been reading his collection Pallbearers Envying The One Who Rides.

Hey! That is an excellent title.

The first and third sections are about a character named Heart (gag, I know) who is an actual organ (gag) in a surreal way. He examines the nature of love, of forgiveness, etc. (gag!). Some cool stuff, but really not like his other stuff.

I blame a bad idea that was ran with.

I don't know if I want to read the third section.

BUT DON'T GET ME WRONG. THE MIDDLE SECTION A LONG POEM TITLED "Oh, Immobility, Death's Vast Associate" RULES.

The questions he uses, poses, constructs rule too, making me think about how I can use questions to guide my own writing (living?).

Here are four from that section:

"Is this what we see when we drive down the street? Men and women stuck to their porches, fabric of skin and fabric of home grown to be one, brains become the mental ditto marks of deck chairs?"

"I too like my memories but their caloric content is nil. Whoever got fat eating the past?"

"Where would we be if the book lacked a binding and the pages flew like birds about the room?"

"It's time to mingle your shoes with the buyers and sellers, one foot forward, then the next. The reality? To bang your drum in the mortal parade. And the dream? To believe yourself dancing." (the end)

It feels like Dobyns wants me here, reading, to interact more than merely read.

I'm thinking I'm thinking and that is good.

Dobyns had a piece in one of the early issue of The Collagist.

I'm still not sure I'm going to read the last section, more about Heart. Though maybe eventually.

The Best of (What's Left of) Heaven by Mairead Byrne sounds good.