a fes&val of poetry - fromm institute for lifelong …fromm.usfca.edu/winter2017/watts updated...
TRANSCRIPT
ThisLoveThisloveisagoodasoilandhoneytothethroat,aslinentothebody,asfineraimentstothegods,asincensetotheworshippersastheyenterin,asthisliHlesealringtomyfinger.Itislikearipepearinaman’shand,itislikethedateswemixwithwine,itisliketheseedsthebakeraddstobread.Wewillbetogetherevenwhenoldagecomesandallthedaysinbetweenwillbefoodsetbeforeus,datesandhoney,breadandwine.
HowThisWorks• FirstHour– Recita&on– APoet,awork,aliHlebackground– Recordingsofthepoet– Poetry/Jazz– Slam
• SecondHour– Visi&ngPoet– ReadingandDiscussion– Q&A
• Jan9:KimAddonizioistheauthorofsixpoetrycollec&ons,twonovels,twostorycollec&ons,andtwobooksonwri&ngpoetry.ShehasreceivedfellowshipsfromtheNEAandGuggenheimFounda&on,twoPushcartPrizes,andwasaNa&onalBookAwardFinalist.HerlatestbooksareMortalTrash:Poemsandamemoir-in-essays,BukowskiinaSundress.Addonizioalsohastwoword/musicCDs:Swearing,Smoking,Drinking,&Kissing(withSusanBrowne)andMyBlackAngel.
• • Jan23:AlYoungWidelytranslated,AlYoungistheauthorof25books.TheseincludeTheBluesDon’tChange,Heaven,and
SomethingAbouttheBlues,novelsandessaycollec&ons.AppointedbyGovernorArnoldSchwarzenegger,YoungservedasCalifornia’spoetlaureatefrom2005through2008.OtherhonorsincludeNEA,Fulbright,GuggenheimFellowships,andthe2011ThomasWolfeAward.HeisDis&nguishedProfessorintheMFAinWri&ngProgramatCaliforniaCollegeoftheArts.
• • Jan30:Ma6hewZapruderistheauthormostrecentlyofSunBear,CopperCanyon,2014.WhyPoetry,abookofproseabout
poetry,isforthcomingfromEcco/HarperCollinsin2017.AnAssociateProfessorandDirectoroftheMFAPrograminCrea&veWri&ngatSaintMary’sCollegeofCalifornia,heisalsoEditoratLargeatWaveBooks,andEditorofthePoetryColumnfortheNewYorkTimesMagazine.HelivesinOakland,CA.
• • Feb6:JoanBaranowisProfessorofEnglishatDominicanUniversityanddirectorofthelow-residencyMFAprogramin
Crea&veWri&ng.SheisaFellowoftheVirginiaCenterfortheCrea&veArtsandmemberoftheSquawValleyCommunityofWriters.HerpoetryhasappearedinTheGeFysburgReview,TheParisReview,PoetryEast,JAMA,amongothers.Herbook,LivingApart,waspublishedbyPlainViewPress.SheproducedthePBSdocumentaryHealingWords:Poetry&Medicine.TheTimeWeHaveisinpost-produc&on.SheisthewinneroftheRobinsonJeffersaward.
• • Feb13:MichaelMcClure,theyoungestoftheBeatGenera&onpoets,firstreadhispoetryonthenightin1957thatGinsberg
readHowl.Heisequallypoetandplaywriteandhasauthored25books--novels,plays,essays,biography.HewrotethefirstversionofMercedesBenzwhichwaspopularizedbyJanisJoplin.AFlowerGarlandBuddhist.Fatherofhumanitarian,Dr.JaneMcClureandtwiceagrandfather.HelivesinOaklandwithhiswife--ar&standsculptorAmyEvansMcClure.
• • Feb27:DawnMcGuireisaneurologist/neuroscien&standtheauthoroffourpoetrycollec&ons,includingTheAphasiaCafé,
winnerofthe2013IndieAwardforPoetry,andAmericanDreamwithExitWound,forthcominginMay,2017.ShegrewupinEasternKentuckyandwaseducatedatPrincetonUniversity,UnionTheologicalSeminary,andtheColumbiaCollegeofPhysiciansandSurgeons.ShelivesintheBayAreawhereshedirectsafreeclinicforAIDSpa&entsandmilitaryveteranswithneurologicalproblems.
• • Mar6:DeanRaderDeanRader’sdebutcollec&onofpoems,Works&Days,wonthe2010T.S.EliotPoetryPrize.Landscape
PortraitFigureForm(2014)wasnamedaBarnes&NobleReviewBestBookofPoetry.Heistheeditorof99Poemsforthe99Percent:AnAnthologyofPoetry.Forthcomingin2017areabookofcollabora&vesonnetswriHenwithSimoneMuench,en&tledSuture(BlackLawrencePress)andSelf-PortraitasWikipediaEntry(CopperCanyon).
•
“Theprin&ngpresshasmadepoetrysosilentthatwe’veforgoHenthepowerofPoetryasoralmessages.ThesoundofthestreetsingerandtheSalva&onArmySpeakerarenottobescorned...”
LawrenceFerlinghen• Prominentvoiceinthewide-openpoetrymovementofthe1950’s.Has
wriHenpoetry,transla&on,fic&on,theatre,artcri&cism,filmnarra&on,andessays.
• Voicethatwentagainsttheliteraryelite’sdefini&onofartandthear&st’srole.
• b.1919,Yonkers,sonofCarloFerlinghenfromprovinceofBreacia.U.ofNorthCarolina,USNavyasship’scommander.Columbiamastersdegree,Sorbonnedoctorate.
• SanFrancisco.TaughtFrench.Wroteartcri&cism.FoundedCityLightsBookstore,firstall-paperbackbookshop.CityLightsPublishing.
• PocketPoetsSeries–dissidentvoices:Ginsberg,etc.Arrestonobscenitycharges.Famoustrialbroughtna&onalaHen&ontotheSanFranciscoRenaissanceandBeatPoetry.Establishedlegalfirstamendmentprecedentforthepublica&onofcontroversialworkofredeemingvalue.
• Pain&ngsexhibitedworld-wide.GeorgeKreveskyGallery.• ConeyIslandoftheMinds&llthemostpopularbookofpoetryintheU.S.
Translatedinto9languages.1,000,000copiesinprint.
9See
itwaslikethiswhen wewaltzintothisplaceacoupleofPapishcats
isdoinganAstectwo-stepAndIsays
Dadlet’scutbutthenthisdame
comesupbehindmesee andsays Youandmecouldreallyexist
WowIsays Onlynextday shehasbadteeth andreallyhates poetry
ApacheLife
ApachelifeintheHillCountry–TexasStateHistorical
Associa&on
see,“ApacheSong”p66,Poems…book2
Na&veAmericanPoetry
• JoyHarjo,MuskogeeCreekpoet,says,“TheliteratureoftheaboriginalpeopleofNorthAmericadefinesAmerica.Itisnotexo&c.Theconcernsarepar&cular,yetorenuniversal.”
• PoetryFounda&on:(Na&veAmericanpoetry)bearshistoricalwitness,demonstratethestrengthoftheNa&veAmericanspirit,arguecrucialpoli&calandsocialissues,whileillumina&ngavibrantculturalheritage.
• “IndianPoetry”embracessong-textsprimarily,butalsoprayers,incanta&ons,andpassagesfrommyths,legendsandchronicles.
ThePowerofWords• Thepowerofwords:Wordsaremagic,theusercanseize
control.Sharpcoercivephraseslike“Listen,”“Bes&ll,”“Drinkmyblood,”aretypicalofthestyleknownas“theformula.”Thesewordsaredesignedtobringabouttheac&ontheydescribe.
• Animalsandobjectsareimbuedwithdis&nc&vepersonifyingspirits.
• TheIndianpoetisnotthoughtofastheoriginatorbuttheconveyerofthepoem.Theoriginisthoughttocomefromspirits,dreams,ancestors,ortosimplyemergefromtheunderworld.
• RothenbergpointsoutthattheothersideofIndianspiritualityisasanc&onedirreverence:sacredclowns,tricksters,whoseabsurdityandblackhumorcomplimentthesenseofharmonyandorder.Whatisatstakehereisthesurvivalofasenseofbalance.
TheKiller(Cherokee)
Careful:myknifedrillsyoursoullisten,whatever-your-name-is OneofthewolfpeoplelistenI’llgrindyoursalivaintotheearthlistenI’llcoveryourboneswithblackflintlistenI’llcoveryourboneswithfeatherslistenI’llcoveryourboneswithrocks.
ApacheBlessing
Maythesunbringyouenergybyday,Maythemoonsorlyrestoreyoubynight,Maytherainwashawayyourworries,Maythebreezeblownewstrengthintoyourbeing.
Mayyouwalkgentlythroughtheworldandknowitsbeautyallthedaysofyourlife.
DreamSong4Fillinghercompact&deliciousbodywithchickenpáprika,sheglancedatmetwice.Fain&ngwithinterest,Ihungeredbackandonlythefactofherhusband&fourotherpeoplekeptmefromspringingonherorfallingatherliHlefeetandcrying‘YouarethehoHestoneforyearsofnightHenry’sdazedeyeshaveenjoyed,Brilliance.'Iadvancedupon(despairing)myspumoni.—SirBones:isstuffed,deworld,wiffeedinggirls.
—Blackhair,complexionLa&n,jewelledeyesdowncast...Theslobbesideherfeasts...Whatwondersisshesinngon,overthere?Therestaurantbuzzes.ShemightaswellbeonMars.Wherediditallgowrong?ThereoughttobealawagainstHenry.—Mr.Bones:thereis.
DreamSong14Life,friends,isboring.Wemustnotsayso.Arerall,theskyflashes,thegreatseayearns,weourselvesflashandyearn,andmoreovermymothertoldmeasaboy(repea&ngly)‘Evertoconfessyou’reboredmeansyouhavenoInnerResources.’IconcludenowIhavenoinnerresources,becauseIamheavybored.Peoplesboreme,literatureboresme,especiallygreatliterature,Henryboresme,withhisplights&gripesasbadasAchilles,wholovespeopleandvaliantart,whichboresme.Andthetranquilhills,&gin,looklikeadragandsomehowadoghastakenitself&itstailconsiderablyawayintomountainsorseaorsky,leavingbehind:me,wag.
TheCuriousWorkofJohnBerryman
• DreamSongsisapost-modernistepic.• ItisthedreamsofacharacternamedHenry,avaguely
disguisedstand-inforthepoethimself,andisamosaicofthementallifeofitscreator.
• Henryclaimstohavesufferedmanylossesinhislifeandistryingtocurehimselfthroughthepsychotherapyofwri&ngdownhisdreams,releasingallhislongsuppressedenergies.Itisartusedforhealing.
• Thedifferentsongsaredifferentstagesinalongjourney
Postmodernliteratureisaformofliteraturewhichismarked,bothstylis&callyandideologically,byarelianceonsuchliteraryconven&onsasfragmenta&on,paradox,unreliablenarrators,orenunrealis&canddownrightimpossibleplots,games,parody,paranoia,darkhumorandauthorialself-reference.
• Berrymanwastorturedbyalcoholism,manic/depressionandtheghostofhisfather.Hehadnightmaresforsevenyearsbeforewri&ngtheDreamSongs.
• Heusesallegory,babytalk,parody,dreamlanguage,theblatherofaneuro&coutpouringofconsciousness.Hewantedeachpoemtobe“adamnedserioushumorandagravityofmaHerwiththegaietyofmanner.”
• Hispoetrywasanefforttobreakawayfromtheover-intellectualizedpoetryoftheday.
• Theformofthepoemvariesbutitisalwaysonepersonatakingoverfromanother,asinHenryandMr.Bones.
• ThepoemalmostshaHersinfrontofyou.Inthiswayheusesthearchitectureofhiswordstoimitatethedisjointednatureofhisownlife.Thelyrichasassumedanintensepurpose.
• Asinallepics,theheromustgothroughmanyseveredifficul&esbeforeaHainingreconcilia&onwiththelife.Inthiscase,therescueisaninternaladjustmentthatsaveshim.InhislastDreamSonghefindshimselfinawoodenhousethatis“madewell.”
Acommandingfigureinwhathadcometobeknownasconfessionalpoetry,foritsseeminglyrawautobiographicalexcava&onofalcoholanddrugs,adulteryanddivorce,madnessandhospitaliza&on—the“generic”lifeofagenera&on,asBerryman’sfriendRobertLowellcalledit.
AlcoholandadulteryareorenthoughttohavebeenJohnBerryman’smuses.ButhisrealandabidingmusewasAmericanspokenEnglish.“IamamonoglotofEnglish,”hesaid.
WithTheDreamSongs,publishedin1969,thesupposedcon&nentaldividebetweentheBeatsontheWestCoastandtheacademicpoetsontheEastclosedin.LikeWhitmanin“SongofMyself,”themodelthathealwaysacknowledgedforTheDreamSongs,Berrymanwasengagedinanongoingandintoxica&ng“languageexperiment,”
SomeThoughtsonBerrymanfromCri&cs
ConfessionalPoetryConfessionalpoetryispoetryofself-revela&on.Broughtto
lightinthe1950sand‘60sbypoetslikeSylviaPlath,AnneSexton,RobertLowell,JohnBerryman,andW.D.Snodgrass,confessionalpoetryservestorevealanauthor’srepressedanguishordeepestemo&onsthroughversesaboutthemostpersonalofsubjects. Althoughfeelingsandemo&onshavelongbeenconsideredacorethema&celementofpoetry,therisquécontentconveyedinconfessionalpoetrysetsitfarapartfrommoretradi&onalgenres.
“AlltheworldlikeawoolenloveroncedidseemonHenry’sside.Thencameadeparture.Therearernothingfelloutasitmightorought.Idon’tseehowHenry,priedopenforalltheworldtosee,survived.”
Withthedrirofyears,manyofthenamesofBerryman’scelebratedfriends,raHledoffconfidentlyinlinesthatrecalltheaccusatoryopeningofHowl,havelapsedintoobscurity:
“I’mcrosswithgodwhohaswreckedthisgenera&on.FirstheseizedTed,thenRichard,Randall,andnowDelmore.InbetweenhegorgedonSylviaPlath.Thatwasafirstratehaul.HeleralivefoolsIcouldnumberlikeakitchenknifebutLowellhedidnottouch.”
Onemightsayaboutthisgroupofconfessionalpoets,asBerrymanwroteinhisgorgeoussuiteofpoemsforDelmoreSchwartz,thatheandhisoncelustrouscontemporariesares&ll“wai&ngforfametodescend/withascarletmantle&telluswhowewere.”Berryman’sphrasinghereechoesMallarmé’sfamoussonnetaboutPoe’stomb,withitspredic&onthateternitywouldeventually“change”Poeback“intoHimself,”separa&ngthegreatnessofthepoet’sachievementfromtheluridlegendsthathadcometosurroundhim.
Berryman–thelife• BornJohnSmithinMcAllester,Oklahoma,1914.Whenhewas12
hisfathershothimselfoutsideJohn’swindow,aneventthathauntedhimthroughouthislifeandappearsfrequentlyinhispoetry.
• Tookstepfather’sname,movedtoMassachuseHsandNewYork.GraduatedColumbiaandthenCambridge.Firstofthreemarriages1942.Firstbookofpoems,TheDispossessed,1948.
• TaughtatHarvard,Princeton,andU.Minnesota.• FamousforHomagetoMistressBradstreetandDreamSongswhich
wonhimthePulitzerPrize.HewasawardedtheNa&onalBookAwardforhis308DreamSongs.
• Heendedhislifein1972byjumpingofftheWashingtonAvenueBridgeinMinneapolisinthedeadofwinter.
“ThoughtmuchIthenonperforateddaddy,daddyboxedin&letdownwithstrongstraps,whenImyfriends’homesvisited,withfathersuniversal&intact.”
TheDeathofJohnBerrymanbyWilliamDickey
Henrywentoverthebridgefirst;healwaysdid.ThenMr.InterlocutorandMr.Bonds,thentheblackfaceminstrelswiththeirtambourines.Youhavetoemptyoutallofthecontentsbeforethepersonhimselfdies.
Thebeardwentovertheedge,andStephenCrane,andthenever-competedscholarlyworkonShakespeare,andfacultywives,andasheafofrecoverywardswhite-&ledintheblueshadowoftheliHlehours.
Heloosenedhisneck&eandtherecurrentdreamofwalkingoutunderwatertothedes&nedisland.Hismotherwentoverinpearls;hisfatherwentover.Hisrealfatherwentover,whoeverhisfatherwas.
Hethoughttogooverwithsomeone,handinhandwithperhapsMistressBradstreet,butsomeonealwaysprecededhim.Thenewsofhisdeathprecededhim.Ithitthewaterwithaflatsplashandthetargettwanged.
Whentherewasnothingtoseeorhearwith,thesilenttrafficofbystanderswrappedinsnow,hisonlybodyletitselfloose,turnedandwavedbeforeitwentovertowhatitnevercouldunderstandasbeingthehumanshore.
HeResignsAge,andthedeaths,andtheghosts.Herhavinggoneawayinspiritfromme.Hostsofregretscome&findmeempty.
Idon’tfeelthiswillchange.Idon’twantanythingorperson,familiarorstrange.Idon’tthinkIwillsing
anymorejustnow;orever.Imuststarttositwithablindbrowaboveanemptyheart.
SongForALadyOnthedayofbreastsandsmallhipsthewindowpockedwithbadrain,raincomingonlikeaminister,wecoupled,sosaneandinsane.Welaylikespoonswhilethesinisterraindroppedlikefliesonourlipsandourgladeyesandoursmallhips."Theroomissocoldwithrain,"yousaidandyou,feminineyou,withyourflowersaidnovenastomyanklesandelbows.Youareana&onalproductandpower.Ohmyswan,mydrudge,mydearwoolyrose,evenanotarywouldnotarizeourbedasyoukneadmeandIriselikebread.
Sexton,herlifeAnneSextonwasborninNewton,MassachuseHsandraisedinWeston.Thedaughterofasuccessfulbusinessman,Sexton’schildhoodwasmateriallycomfortablebutnothappy.Herrela&onshipswithherparentsweredifficult,perhapsevenabusive.Sexton’sclosestconfidantewashermaidengreat-aunt.SheaHendedboardingschoolandarergradua&onenrolledinGarlandJuniorCollegeforoneyear.SextonlaterdescribedGarlandasa“finishing”school.Atage19,shemarriedAlfred“Kayo”SextonII.WhileKayowasservinginKorea,Annebecameafashionmodel.In1953,shegavebirthtoherfirstchildandin1955,hersecond.Sextonsufferedfrompost-partumdepression,andarerthebirthofherfirstdaughtershesufferedherfirstbreakdownandwasadmiHedtoaneuropsychiatrichospital.Otherins&tu&onaliza&onsfollowed.Sextonstruggledwithdepressionfortheremainderofherlife.ShecommiHedsuicideatage46.PulitzerPrize1967forherbookLiveorDie.
Intreatment,hertherapistencouragedhertowriteandin1957Sextonjoinedwri&nggroupsinBostonthateventuallyledhertofriendshipsandrela&onshipswiththepoetsMaxineKumin,RobertLowell,GeorgeStarbuck,andSylviaPlath.AsSextontoldBeatriceBerg,herwri&ngbegan,infact,astherapy:“MyanalysttoldmetowritebetweenoursessionsaboutwhatIwasfeelingandthinkinganddreaming.”
“IfanythinginfluencedmeitwasW.D.Snodgrass’Heart’sNeedle....Itsochangedme,andundoubtedlyitmusthaveinfluencedmypoetry.Atthesame&meeveryonesaid,‘Youcan’twritethisway.It’stoopersonal;it’sconfessional;youcan’twritethis,Anne,’andeveryonewasdiscouragingme.ButthenIsawSnodgrassdoingwhatIwasdoing,anditkindofgavemepermission.”
AnneSexton
“Heart’sNeedle”exploresafather’sstruggletoremainafathertohisdaughterwhoisseparatedfromhimbyherparents’divorce.Hisdaughter’spresenceduringvisita&onaswellasherabsenceislikeaneedleintheheartbecausebothintensifyhissenseofloss.
DuringsessionswithAnneSextonheusedhypnosisandsodiumpentothaltorecoversupposedlyrepressedmemories.Duringthisprocess,heallegedlyusedsugges&ontouncovermemoriesofhavingbeenabusedbyherfather.
Sexton’sWorkThemesofherpoetryincludeherlongbaHleagainstdepressionandmania,suicidaltendencies,andvariousin&matedetailsfromherprivatelife,includingherrela&onshipswithherhusbandandchildren.
Sextonisseenasthemodernmodeloftheconfessionalpoet.MaxineKumindescribedSexton'swork:"Shewroteopenlyaboutmenstrua&on,abor&on,masturba&on,incest,adultery,anddrugaddic&onata&mewhentheproprie&esembracednoneoftheseaspropertopicsforpoetry.”
"Star&ngasarela&velyconven&onalwriter,shelearnedtoroughenupherline....touseitasaninstrumentagainstthe'politesse'oflanguage,poli&cs,religion,andsex."
TheAwfulRowingTowardGod.The&tlecamefromhermee&ngwithaRomanCatholicpriestwho,althoughunwillingtoadministerlastrites,toldher"Godisinyourtypewriter."Thisgavethepoetthedesireandwillpowertocon&nuelivingandwri&ng.
Some&messhemadeaHemptstoreachoutsidetherealmofherownlifeforpoe&cthemes.TransformaWons(1971)isarevisionaryre-tellingofGrimm'sFairyTales.Gaverisetotheterm“Revisioning.”
SnowWhiteandtheSevenDwarfsNomaHerwhatlifeyouleadthevirginisalovelynumber:cheeksasfragileascigareHepaper,armsandlegsmadeofLimoges,lipslikeVinDuRhône,rollingherchina-bluedolleyesopenandshut.Opentosay,GoodDayMama,andshutforthethrustoftheunicorn.Sheisunsoiled.Sheisaswhiteasabonefish.
OncetherewasalovelyvirgincalledSnowWhite.Sayshewasthirteen.Herstepmother,abeautyinherownright,thougheaten,ofcourse,byage,wouldhearofnobeautysurpassingherown.Beautyisasimplepassion,but,ohmyfriends,intheendyouwilldancethefiredanceinironshoes.Thestepmotherhadamirrortowhichshereferred--somethingliketheweatherforecast--amirrorthatproclaimedtheonebeautyoftheland.Shewouldask,Lookingglassuponthewall,whoisfairestofusall?Andthemirrorwouldreply,Youarethefairestofusall.Pridepumpedinherlikepoison.
Suddenlyonedaythemirrorreplied,Queen,youarefullfair,‘&strue,butSnowWhiteisfairerthanyou.Un<hatmomentSnowWhitehadbeennomoreimportantthanadustmouseunderthebed.ButnowthequeensawbrownspotsonherhandandfourwhiskersoverherlipsoshecondemnedSnowWhitetobehackedtodeath.Bringmeherheart,shesaidtothehunter,andIwillsaltitandeatit.Thehunter,however,lethisprisonergoandbroughtaboar’sheartbacktothecastle.Thequeenchewedituplikeacubesteak.NowIamfairest,shesaid,lappingherslimwhitefingers.
SnowWhitewalkedinthewildwoodforweeksandweeks.Ateachturnthereweretwentydoorwaysandateachstoodahungrywolf,histonguelollingoutlikeaworm.Thebirdscalledoutlewdly,talkinglikepinkparrots,andthesnakeshungdowninloops,eachanooseforhersweetwhiteneck.Ontheseventhweekshecametotheseventhmountainandthereshefoundthedwarfhouse.ItwasasdrollasahoneymooncoHageandcompletelyequippedwithsevenbeds,sevenchairs,sevenforksandsevenchamberpots.SnowWhiteatesevenchickenliversandlaydown,atlast,tosleep.
Thedwarfs,thoseliHlehotdogs,walkedthree&mesaroundSnowWhite,thesleepingvirgin.TheywerewiseandwaHledlikesmallczars.Yes.It’sagoodomen,theysaid,andwillbringusluck.Theystoodon&ptoestowatchSnowWhitewakeup.Shetoldthemaboutthemirrorandthekiller-queenandtheyaskedhertostayandkeephouse.Bewareofyourstepmother,theysaid.Soonshewillknowyouarehere.Whileweareawayintheminesduringtheday,youmustnotopenthedoor.
Lookingglassuponthewall...ThemirrortoldandsothequeendressedherselfinragsandwentoutlikeapeddlertotrapSnowWhite.Shewentacrosssevenmountains.ShecametothedwarfhouseandSnowWhiteopenedthedoorandboughtabitoflacing.Thequeenfastenedit&ghtlyaroundherbodice,as&ghtasanAcebandage,so&ghtthatSnowWhiteswooned.Shelayonthefloor,apluckeddaisy.Whenthedwarfscamehometheyundidthelaceandsherevivedmiraculously.Shewasasfulloflifeassodapop.Bewareofyourstepmother,theysaid.Shewilltryoncemore.
Lookingglassuponthewall...OncemorethemirrortoldandoncemorethequeendressedinragsandoncemoreSnowWhiteopenedthedoor.This&mesheboughtapoisoncomb,acurvedeight-inchscorpion,andputitinherhairandswoonedagain.Thedwarfsreturnedandtookoutthecombandsherevivedmiraculously.SheopenedhereyesaswideasOrphanAnnie.Beware,beware,theysaid,butthemirrortold,thequeencame,SnowWhite,thedumbbunny,openedthedoorandshebitintoapoisonappleandfelldownforthefinal&me.Whenthedwarfsreturnedtheyundidherbodice,theylookedforacomb,butitdidnogood.ThoughtheywashedherwithwineandrubbedherwithbuHeritwastonoavail.Shelayass&llasagoldpiece.
Thesevendwarfscouldnotbringthemselvestoburyherintheblackgroundsotheymadeaglasscoffinandsetitupontheseventhmountainsothatallwhopassedbycouldpeekinuponherbeauty.AprincecameoneJunedayandwouldnotbudge.Hestayedsolonghishairturnedgreenands&llhewouldnotleave.ThedwarfstookpityuponhimandgavehimtheglassSnowWhite--itsdoll’seyesshutforever--tokeepinhisfar-offcastle.Astheprince’smencarriedthecoffintheystumbledanddroppeditandthechunkofappleflewoutofherthroatandshewokeupmiraculously.
AndthusSnowWhitebecametheprince’sbride.Thewickedqueenwasinvitedtotheweddingfeastandwhenshearrivedtherewerered-hotironshoes,inthemannerofred-hotrollerskates,clampeduponherfeet.Firstyourtoeswillsmokeandthenyourheelswillturnblackandyouwillfryupwardlikeafrog,shewastold.Andsoshedancedun&lshewasdead,asubterraneanfigure,hertongueflickinginandoutlikeagasjet.MeanwhileSnowWhiteheldcourt,rollingherchina-bluedolleyesopenandshutandsome&mesreferringtohermirroraswomendo.
• ‘Twasbrilig,andtheslithytoves• didgyreandgimbleinthewabe;• Allmimsyweretheborogoves,• andthemomerathsoutgrabe.• BewaretheJabberwock,myson• thejawsthatbite,theclawsthatcatch• Bewarethejubjubbirdandshun• thefrumiousBandersnatch• Hetookhisvorpalswordinhand;• Long&methemanxomefoehesought• Sorestedhebythetumtumtree• andstoodawhileinthought• Andasinuffishthoughthestood,• theJabberwockwitheyesofflame• Camewhifflingthroughthetulgeywood• andburbledasitcame.
JabberwockybyLewisCarroll
• Onetwoonetwoandthroughandthrough• thevorpalbladewentsnickersnack.• Heleritdeadandwithitshead• hewentgalumphingback• AndhastthouslaintheJabberwock?• Cometomyarmsmybeamishboy• Ofrabjousday!CalloohCallay• Hechortledinhisjoy• ‘Twasbrilig,andtheslithytoves• didgyreandgimbleinthewabe;• Allmimsyweretheborogoves,• andthemomerathsoutgrabe.
TheEndofDreamsbyFloydSkloot
• Hewakensknowingthistobetheday• hishopelesssingingvoiceatlastwillsound• exactlyliketheyoungRobertGoulet.• Itisthedayforhimtotouchtheground• asonlynobleFredAstairehasdone• before,andonlyonce,andwithsomeone• perfectinhisarms.Hewillbeable• toaccompanyhimselfonthegrandpiano• bysight,basshandandtreble• handlikeswallowsinflight,eachmagichand• nimbleandlightastheairthattrembles• withthemusichewillmakeattheend• ofallhisdreams.
• Itfeelssimpleandright• todrawinalltheairhecan,togrow• s&llthensoar.Nowtheyallstandaround• hisbed,intears,andheseesthepurelight• thatmeansthe&mehascomeforhimtosound• thefirstnote,takethefirststep,andletgo.
MorningPoembyDavidWa6s(harveyellis)
nowyourememberwhatthesunlookedlike- sor,noglareapeekofcloudtodrirby justattheright&me.nowyourememberrain,itscoldéclair foryourmorningbreakfast.whatwillyoudowiththisknowledge initsgela&ncapsule?whatofsleepandthebiHeralarm?whendoestheworldturnslowlyenough?whenthechancetogetenoughrest
NotHerebyLornaDeeCervantes
“Nothere”,shesays,anddivertsthestream.“Nothere”,shewhispersandconvertsthelunarwaves.“Nothere”,shesingsandpreventstheclotsofsummerfromseHlingonherskin.”Nothere,”shemurmurs,andcurrentsdesireinto&de pools.“Nothere”,shestartlesinthethicketandlooksaway.“Nothere,”sheconfrontsmygazelikeadeerinthebristlingmeadow,andreturnsto feed.
CountermanbyPaulVioli• Whatllitbe?Roastbeefonrye,withtomatoand
mayo• Whaddayawantonit?Aswipeofmayo.Pepperbut
nosalt.• Yougotit.YouwantleFuceonthat?No.Justtomato
andmayo.• Tomatoandmayo.Yougotit.Saltandpepper?• Nosalt,justaliHlepepper.• Yougotit.Nosalt.Youwanttomato.?Yes.Tomato.No
leHuce.• NoleFuce.Yougotit.…Nosalt,right?Right.Nosalt.• Yougotit.Pickle?No,nopickle.Justtomatoandmayo.• Andpepper.Yes,aliHlepepper• Right.AliFlepepper.Nopickle.Right.Nopickle.• Yougotit.Next!
• Roastbeefonwholewheat,please,• withleHuce,mayonnaiseandacentersliceofbeefsteaktomato.• TheleHucesplayed,ifyouwill,• inaBeauxArtsderiva&veofclassicalacanthus,• andtheroastbeef,thinlysliced,foldedInamul&-foilarrangement• thateschewsBragdonianpretensions• oranyideaofdivinegeometricprojec&on• ForthatmaHer,butsimplyprovidesasenngforthetomato• toformamedallionwithadabofmayonnaiseasafleuron.• And—aseclec&casthismaysound—• ifthemayonnaisecanalsobeappliedalongthecrustinaVitruvian• scrollandasafestoonbelowthemedallion,Thatwouldbeswell• YoumeanlikeintheCathedralSt.PierreinGeneva?• Yes,buttheswagmoreliketheonebelowtheroseHe]• attheRoyalPalaceinAmsterdam.Yougotit.Next!