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"A note to Pound in heaven: Only one mistake, Ezra! You should have talked to women"
--George Oppen, _Twenty Six Fragments_
Archives:
xoxo Hey, E-Mail Me! xoxo
ManY PoETiKaL HaTs LisT:
Holly's Pirate-girl Hat,
chrismurray in a straw hat,
Michael Helsem's Gray Wyvern NOLA Fedora.
Duchamp's Rrose Selavy's flirting hat.
Max Ernst's Hats of The Hat Makes the Man.
Jordan Davis' The Hat!
poetry. hks' smelly head baseball cap.
Samuel Beckett's Lucky's
Black bowler hat,
giving his oration
on what's questionable in mankind,
in *Waiting for 'God-ot'*.
my friend John Phillips's 1969
dove gray fedora w/ wild feather.
Bob Dylan's mystery lover's Panama Hat.
Bob Creeley's Black Mountain Felt Boater Hat.
Duke Ellington's Satin
Top Hat. Acorn Hats of Tree.
Freud's 1950 City Fedora.
Joseph Brodsky's Sailor Cap.
Harry K Stammer's Copper Hat
Hell. Lewis LaCook's bowler hat(s).
Tom Beckett's Bad Hair Day
Furry Pimp Hat. Daughter Holly's black beret.
harry k stammer's fez. Cat
in the Hat's Hat & best
hat, Googling Texfiles:
crocheted hat with flames.
Harry K Stammer's tinseled berets.
Tex's 10 gallon Gary Cooper felt Stetson cowboy hat.
Jordan Davis's fedora.
Dali's High-heel Shoe Hat. Harry K Stammer's en-blog LAPD Hat
& aluminum baseball cap. cap'n caps. NY-Yankees caps. the HKS-in-person-caps
are blue or green no logos nor captions.
Ma Skanky Possum 10's nighttime cap.
moose antler hat. propeller beenie hat.
doo rag. knit face mask hat. Bob Dylan's & photographer Laziz
Hamani's panama hats. Mark Weiss's Publisher's Hat.
Rebecca Loudon's Seattle-TX-Hats'n'boots.
Ever-Evolving Links:
Silliman's Links
Dominic Rivron
Unidentified
Br Tom @ One & Plainer
Dan Waber: ars poetica anthology
Dan Waber: altered books anthology
chris daniels: Notes to a Fellow Traveller
Chris Daniels: Toward an Anti-Capitalist Poetry
David Daniels: The Gates Of Paradise
subterranean poets: Beijing Poetry Group
Charles Alexander/Chax Press: Chaxblog
Headlines Poetry: the latest weblog entries
Henry Gould's AlephoeBooks
Julie Choffel's Understory
Tom Murphy's former one
Jean Vengua's New Okir
Roger Pao's Asian-American Poetry
Tom Lisk: Oilcloth and Linoleum
Kevin Doran
Reb Livingston's Cackling Jackal Blog
Janet Holmes: Humanophone
Lorna Dee Cervantes
Mark Young's gamma ways
Brian Campbell: Out of the Woodwork
Shanna's DIY Publishing Blog
Galatea Resurrects: a Poetry Review
Tom Beckett
John Sakkis: BOTH BOTH
New Francois Luong:Voices in Utter Dark, KaBlow!sm is...
Old Francois Luong: Voices in Utter Dark
Margin Walker: Andrew Lundwall
Free Space Comix: the latest BK Stefans blog
Adam Lockhart, Experimentalist Composer
Antic View: Alan Bramhall & Jeff Harrison
lookouchblog: Jessica Smith
MiPOradio
Web Log -- Charles Bernstein
Google Poem Generator: Leevi Lehto
Marie Mutsuki Mockett
Feral Scholar: Stan Goff
worderos: Tom Beckett
In Galatea's Purse
Japundit
Quiet Desperation: Jim Ryal
Luca Antara: Martin Edmond
Brief Epigrams: Ryan Alexander MacDonald
Radio My Vocabulary: 4 pm Sunday Poetry Streams
Mark Lamoreaux: [[[0{:}0]]]
Hot Whiskey Blog
louder
Nick Bruno: They Shoot Poets Don't They?
Joe Massey: Rooted Fool
Kate Greenstreet: every other day
heuriskein: Tom Orange
Chiaroscuro Metropoli: Tom Beckett
Behrle's latest spout!
Fluffy Dollars: Michelle Detorie
Jane Dark's Sugar High!
The Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center
(Charles) Olson Now: Michael Kellaher & Ammiel Alcalay
kari edwards' TranssubMUTATION
Notes on the Revival: Jeremy Hawkins
PurPur: Petrus Pokus
Snapper Missives: Scott Pierce
A Sad Day for Sad Birds II: Gina Meyers
Great Works: Peter Philpot
zafusy: experimental poetry journal
Writeboard: a collaborative writing tool
John Latta: Rue Hazard
KP Harris: Croissant Factory
Stephanie Young's New Site
Stephen Vincent's New Site
Portable Press@Yo~Yo Labs
Square America
Amy King's blog
Robert: Peyoetry Hut
Muisti Kirja: Karri Kokko
Karri Kokko's Blonde on Blonde
Yummeee Blog (recipes)
Nice Guy Syndrome: Tim Botta
Left Hook
Del Ray Cross: anachronizms
Juan Cole: Informed Comment
BuzzFlash - Daily Headlines, Breaking News, Links
Aaron McCollough
Chris Lott's Cosmopoetica
Chad Parenteau
Little Emerson
Fever, Light--by Sawako Nakayasu
Second Wish
Nomadics
Alison Croggon
Radical Druid
Ron is Ron: the Ron Silliman Cartoon by Jim Behrle
Dagzine: Positions, Poetics, Populations: Gary Norris
Shadows within Shadows: Tom Beckett
Self Similar Writing: Jukka Pekka Kervinen
The Little Workshop: Cassie Lewis
Sky Bright: Jay Rosevear
Poesy Galore: Emily Lloyd
Lisa Jarnot's Blog
Poetry Hut: Jilly Dybka (has moved here)
Pornfeld: Michael Hoerman
Seven Apples: Justin Ulmer
Hi Spirits: Andrew Burke
Bacon Bargain!: Joe Massey
Ivy is here: Ivy Alvarez
Whimsy Speaks: Jeff Bahr
Umbrella: Jeff Wietor
Chicanas! (Susana L. Gallardo)
Masters of Photography
Blog of Disquiet: Gary Norris' Teaching Blog
Suzanna Gig Jig
Bad with Titles: Jay Thomas
Spaceship Tumblers! Tony Tost
Desert City: Ken Rumble
E-Po
Zotz!
Optative Mood: Tim Morris
ecritures bleues: Laura Carter
The Ingredient: Alli Warren
Skanky Possum Pouch
Slight Publications
Jewishy-Irishy: Laurel Snyder
Sea-Camel: Alberto Romero Bermo
Growing Nations: Jordan Stempleman
Tom Raworth
Entropy and Me: Hal Johnson
Scott Pierce: Snapper's Junk
Chicano Poet: Reyes Cardenas
Semio-Karl M&M
Stephen Vincent
Hoa Nguyen/Teacher's & Writers
a New Word Placements
Narcissus Works: Anny Ballardini
Richard Lopez
Tributary: Allen Bramhall
The_Delay: Chris Vitiello
Jukka Pekka Kervinen: Nonlinear Poetry
Lanny Quarles: Phaneronoemikon
Clifford Duffy: Fictions of Deleuze & Guattari
DagZine
Carrboro Poetry Festival
Steve Evans: Third Factory
DEBORAH PATILLO
SKANKY POSSUM PRESS
Tim Peterson: Mappemunde
WOOD'S LOT
Geof Huth: DBQP
Ann Marie Eldon
Jim Behrle: The Jim Side
Ray Bianchi:Postmodern Collage Poetry
Never Mind the Beasts
Diaryo
New Broom
Flingdump Scattershot
Tony Tost: Unquiet Grave
Grapez
SB POET
Mark Young's Pelican Dreaming
|||AS/IS2|||
Li's A Private Studio
Anny Ballardini's Poet's Corner
Tom Beckett: Vanishing Points
Dumbfoundry
BadGurrrlNest
Jean Vengua's Okir
Hear-it dot org: info on hearing problems
Tim Yu's Tympan
James Yeager's Modern Lives
Tony Robinson: Geneva Convention
Daniel Nestor's Unpleasant Event
Ex-Lion Tamer
Carlos Arribas: Scriptorium
David Nemeth
Ela's Incertain Plume
Mairead Byrne's Heaven
Catherine Daly
Black Spring
Br.Tom's Finish Yr Phrase
Shin Yu Pai: makura-no-soshi
Harry K. Stammer: Downtown LA
Corina's Fledgling Wordsmith
Jilly Dybka's Poetry Hut
Ben Basan's Luminations
Katey: Chewing on Pencils
YaY!! Eileen Tabios: Chatelaine Poetics !
Jill Jones: Ruby Street
Geoffrey Gatza's BlazeVox
Bill Allegrezza's P-Ramblings
Gary Sullivan's Elsewhere
GoldenRuleJones
Poetry_Heat
Bookslut
Chickee's SuperDeluxeGoodPoems
As-Is !
John Latta's Hotel Point
Sawako Nakayasu's Ongoing Show
Shanna Compton's Brand New Insects
Crag Hill
kari edwards: transdada
Fluss
Michael Helsem's Gray Wyvern
Word Placement
Bogue's Blog
Jordan Davis: Equanimity
Robert Flach's Unadulterated Text
Michelle Bautista
Ironic Cinema
Mike Snider
Farewell Tonio!
In Through the Out Door
The Blonde Brunette
Awake at Dawn on Someone's Couch is Toast
Jukka-Pekka Kervinen:Non-Linear
Xpress(ed) !
Chris Lott's Ruminate
Venepoetics
Laura: Yellowslip
Stick Poet Super Hero
Mighty Jens!
Radio UTA: Toni's Thursday Poetry Show
Tim Morris: Lection
Gabe Gudding
Constant Critic
Sappho's Breathing
Waves of Reading
Jhananin's Insite
Fanaticus
AdvExpo
Stephen Vincent
Stephanie Young: New Well Nourished Moon
Kasey Silem Mohammad's Newest Limetree
Lanny Quarles: (solipsis)//:phaneronoemikon
States Writes
Rebecca's Pocket
Simulacro
Braincase Links
Sentence
Sor Juana
73 Urban Bus Journeys
Poeta Empirica
poetry for the people: canwehaveourballback?
Ernesto Priego's Never Neutral
Nick Piombino's Fait Accompli
Weekly Incite blogresearch
Jim Behrle's first monkey
Jim Behrle's Monkey's Gone to Heaven
David Kirschenbaum's Boog City
Not Nick Moudry
Laurable
David Hess Heathens in Heat
Jack Kimball's Pantaloons
Li Bloom's Abolone
Ron Silliman
Chris Sullivan's Bloggchaff
Chris Sullivan's Slight Publications
Chris Sullivan's Department of Culture
Kasey S. Mohammad's Old-New Limetree
Kasey's Old Limetree
James Meetze: Brutal Kittens
Cassie Lewis: The Jetty
Joseph Mosconi's Harlequin Knights
Nada Gordon's Ululate
ultimate: Stephanie Young's First Well Nourished Moon
Steve Evans: Third Factory
Noah Eli Gordon's Human Verb
Jean Vengua's Blue Kangaroo
Sawako Nakayasu: Texture Notes
Free Space Comix: BK Stefans
Crosfader
Malcolm Davidson's eeksy peeksy
Marsh Hawk Press group
Catherine Meng's Porthole Redux
Josh Corey's Cahiers de Corey
Very Nice! Shampoopoetry
UTA's Lit Mag: ZNine
Wild Honey Press
Jacket
JFK's Poetinresidence
Malcolm Davidson's Tram Spark poems
HYepez: RealiTi
HYpez: Mexperimental
Aimee Nez's Gila Monster
BestMaX: Jim Behrle's jismblog
Cori Copp's Littleshirleybean
Jordan Davis: Million Poems
Eileen Tabios: Corpsepoetics [see Chatelaine above]
YaY! Liz's Thirdwish
Ultra Linking
Henry Gould's HG Poetics
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Saturday, May 08, 2004
A Few Words on Mary Austin's Remarkable Ideas and Style
Mary Austin's 1923 essay, "The American Rhythm," shows an unusual writing style and curious ways of connecting ideas that really appeal to me--though I should qualify that somewhat: not all of her ideas: some are more like clunked-up granny shoes, and some hold the usual bizarre assumptions found in even the most wide ranging of thinkers from the 1920s-30s-40s. Or, as C.D. Wright says in her Intro to this reprint from No: a journal of the arts (Issue 2: 2003), there are a few "reprehensible and dated remarks." I came across this essay from Skanky Possum's Dale Smith (who kindly sent me a copy), who writes at length about Austin's ideas on rhythm and line in his column, *Marsupial Inquirer* for the latest issue of Jessa Crispin's Bookslut, released last Friday.
Here's what really got to me, reading Austin in terms of both ideas and an inviting, highly creative writing style. Austin is beginning (qtd. below) a section that posits a close link between physical activity--the experience of life's activities, particularly ritualistic activities such as tribal dances, or work activities such as cutting wood, or even just walking--and the rhythmic patternings of poetry, and extrapolating from there to say it is intrinsic to poetry of the new world (as opposed to the older, European forms, mannerisms, and taxonomies of poetic rhythm). This is also a main point of Dale's facinating and instructive discussion, in terms of the work of specific poets, and the place of experience. I'll add here that it seems to me to inform Dale's own poetics very nicely as well.
But what I like here, too, is that Austin takes on and dispenses with Freud in one brief stroke--she wisely did not see an apparent need to argue over the worst points of Freud for years in countless books as many have done :)
when she writes this section of the essay:
To understand how verse forms become fixed in tribal life we must go far enough back in the period of the Dawn Mind to be able to reject the Freudian premise of the primacy of the sex urge and the hunger urge as factors of self-realization, and boldly assert that the absorbing business of the Dawn Man was the realization of himself in relation to the Allness.
The sex urge is seasonal, the belly pull a short one from tide to receding tide. Down to the neolithic age as we know it in America, the food search had not yet taken on the vibration of perpetual anxiety. (222)
Her choices of apellation intrigue me, make me want to look more closely into them linguistically and figuratively. The notion, "Dawn Mind," I rather like, and realize that there are few places now where one might create a poetical sounding referent like that. It's definitely frowned on by composition experts, even the ones who are also poets. But hey, it has something appealing to it, at least to me. Something literal in the semiosis between dawn, that special moment of everyday when it is on a threshold of a new segment, and mind, that aspect of consciousness that lets us think and speak and have a sense of being. So this, I think, is a lovely pairing of figural terms. Then to find "perpetual anxiety" refered to as "vibrational"--so literal, so true to experience. Additionally, we have another remarkable term brought out of figural thinking: "Allness," which describes not so much a deity as a continuity and sense of oneness of being. Lovely. This quickly makes Freud's theories look very peculiar, at least in terms of the many (usually unmentioned and considered at the time this was written, early twentieth century) peoples and ways that are western culture's 'other(s)'--against whom western culture defines itself.
And then we come to that elemental other quandary, the western notion of a self-centered, individuated self, particularly as represented in the egotistical "I"--something that not all peoples' ways of knowing and being buy into, and here is why:
...the first I of the man-thing was not the I of himself, but only of Us, mankind. If he danced the I-song in his loneness, it was to call to himself that other by which he is made more completely one in becoming not himself only. (222)
The I-song knows loneness, too, but it is not based in aloneness or the individual; it is based in belonging to the Allness.
This, then, is the beginning of a poetry that is "deliberately" "sought" for its "affective values." (223)
And there is in this "Dawn Mind" a "superior capacity... for mimesis." It can be observed in "the flock and the swarm." (223)
In some ways this starts to sound stylistically very like Laura Riding's prose--difficult in some ways, different, putting things together with unusual referents, with the result of finding some new or forgotten (collectively ) or overlooked (by scholars) connections between things. Yet there is a lot more abstraction in Riding, and fewer examples. Here, the nice blend of poetic impulse with reasoned exposition makes a strong and intriguing prose style, which in turn is also often one to heed.
That's what strong writing does. I'm looking for more of Mary Austin's ways of thinking and writing. Thanks Dale!
chris at
10:08 PM
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Letter D
from Chaucer's
Prier A Nostre Dame: Of Our Lady the ABC
...
Doute is ther noon, quene of misericorde,
That thow nart cause of grace and mercy here.
God vouched sauf thurgh the with us t'acorde,
For certes, Cristes blysful moder dere,
Were now the bowe ybent in swich manere
As hit was first, of justice and of ire,
The ryghtful God nolde of no mercy here--
But thurgh thee han we grace, as we desire.
...
(673)
* The Complete Poetry and Prose of Geoffrey Chaucer. John H. Fisher, Ed. New York: Holt & c., 1977.
chris at
4:15 PM
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On his new poetry review site, *Speaking Volumes: Reviewing Contemporary Poetry,* Tim Morris contemplates Kim Addonizio's What Is this Thing Called Love. Go Tim!
chris at
2:44 PM
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...sing "I'm risen, I'm arose'd"
chris at
2:02 PM
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Listening: The Very Best of Cream--just picked it up last night, sounding good, old and good.
chris at
12:15 PM
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Friday, May 07, 2004
Well, this statement caught my eye, bibliophile that I am: "I've got the whole OED behind me... Sometimes I pick it up and cuddle it."--Steven Brust, in a Bookslut interview by Adrienne Martini. Okay, I admit I've been tempted to hug a book now and then, but have so far only touched the covers and pages... .
And hey, catch the rest of the new issue of Bookslut, including
an in-depth and thought provoking column on poetics, "Line and Rhythm," by Dale Smith,
as well as some insight into Donna Haraway's The Companion Species, as reviewed by Janine Armin.
This is also Bookslut's 2nd Anniversary issue: Congratulations to Jessa and crew, thanks for this valuable journal.
chris at
11:15 PM
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Note: I'm postponing the Texfiles Poet of the Week feature of Bill Allegrezza until the weekend of May 21-23. I didn't realize it until today, but he has to be out of town, not near computers (a trip over to the Dakotas!--how cool is that?!) until then. So do look again for the feature to resume two Saturdays ahead. Thanks for your patience, Y'all!
chris at
9:28 PM
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More Blog Poetry (check archives for March, and there are several others over the last year)--poems composed only for and completely on the blog post screen, in one sitting:
On the Red & White Whiling Hours of Hoods of Cars
they are called live
oaks these
perky leafings,
trees fattening now
with hard green
berry
which only birds
will eat
savoring
when they turn
to bitter blacker juice
or until so loose they fall
splat & mark until the next soul-
scouring drama-rama
lightning hailstorm
thunderbolting
memory pock
'n thwock
confusions
or until the sideways
sheets of rain
scrim & steam a surface
like they've never
been at all
marked
by berry
or even by some human jibb
sailing by reflecting
feet or hands
or chrome framed,
reflected skies & more
smiles or scowls
or puzzlements
these red & white whiling hours
of hoods of cars
old & parked
for leisurely months of rust
& asphalt seasoning
pitted as words
or salt-peppered
that kind
of slow drum
wading quietude
~~~~~~~~~copyright of chris murray~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chris at
1:16 PM
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Announcing a new Texfiles Poet of the Week!
A very warm welcome to Bill Allegrezza, poet of smarts, poetic range, and great wit (check out the translation series he posts on his blog)! Bill is the editor of the fine online journal, Moria--so do go check it out, too.
Bill used to live here in the Dallas area, when he was a student a few years ago. So, the setting for this group of poems is this the DFW region, and is the first group of poems I've featured that are set here. I'll be posting one per day of this series of poems that I find edgy, intriguing, laced with atmosphere yet open ended: be sure to check back here tomorrow afternoon for the next one in Bill's series. & as always, do
Enjoy, Y'all !
* * *
1.
tracings on a hill in irving
i have stopped and now continue
"She started to sing while looking at the ledges."
seventy two three fourteen
lights under mesquites
chairs scattered
young lovers on highways where rocks fall chaotically
through life
uplanded somewhere in-between as though no release is a tidal shift
"He was attempting to follow her."
dark trails lead past thorns and overturned trees
to an overlook
in finding number that is enough
* * *
~~~~~~~~~poetry copyright of Bill Allegrezza~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o~o/
chris at
12:53 AM
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Gee, Y'all--sorry to say I've been sick with my recurring inner ear troubles again--that makes 3 times this year: not a good thing since last year I had no problems all year. But now here it is, and while also trying to finish up the semester.
Between one and the other, then, am draggin' a little around here.
Starting to feel better tonight, so am going ahead now with plans from earlier this week, to announce a new poet-poetry feature. I have several lined up for the next little bit so do stay tuned. Thanks for your patience.
chris at
12:38 AM
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Thursday, May 06, 2004
Letter C
from Chaucer's Prier A Nostre Dame: Of Our Lady the ABC * :
...
Comfort is noon but in you, lady dere,
For loo, my synne and my confusioun,
Which oughte not in thy presence appere,
Han take on me a grevouse accioun
Of verray ryght and desperacioun,
And, as by ryght, they myghten wel sustene
That I were worthy my dampnacioun,
Nere mercy of yow, blysful hevenes quene.
...
(673)
* The Complete Poetry and Prose of Geoffrey Chaucer. John H. Fisher, Ed. New York: Holt & c., 1977.
chris at
10:39 PM
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Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Letter B
from Chaucer's
Prier A Nostre Dame: Of Our Lady the ABC *
--Incipit carmen secundum ordinem litterarum alphabeticum--
...
Bountee so fix hath in thine hert his tent,
That wel I wot, thow wolt my socour bee.
Thow kanst not werne him that with good entent
Axeth thyn help, thine herte is ay so free.
Thow art largesse of pleyn felicitee,
Haven of refut, of quiete, and of reste.
Loo, how that theves seven chasen me!
Help, lady bryght, er that my shippe to-breste.
...
(673)
* The Complete Prose and Poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. John H. Fisher, Editor. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 1977.
chris at
11:07 AM
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"ripped up heart..." yeah: HKS: your poetry rocks
chris at
12:32 AM
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Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Rochester--where I grew up--evoked absolutely
to the last letter *t* in Main Street ... .
Thanks for the great read, Cassie.
And thanks, Tim Yu, for pointing to Cassie's post.
chris at
4:52 PM
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Still overwhelmed here with end-of-semester work (all that effect listed in the post below). So will try to get back to posting this evening, if other immediate-deadline projects are caught up.
Meanwhile, here's some fine reading--kari sent me the link to Angela Gardner & Poetry Espresso's new online edition, Foam:e, just out, and full of lots of great work, including some from kari edwards and some from Jill Jones (hi Jill!) and a very fine kettle of fish from none other than--YaY!! "The Asian American Billy Collins" : )
Enjoy: Foam: e
chris at
4:26 PM
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Sorry!--completely Niagara falls here. Delays, steam, froth, and faces made of question marks interspersed with well lit rainbow pastels of Tables of Contents and an overdue Intro. Ack!!--Hoping to be able to catch up on promised posting--new Texfiles feature and Chaucer's B fr ABCs, sometime Tuesday midday or afternoon. Thanks for your patience. cm
chris at
3:03 AM
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Monday, May 03, 2004
Wonderful feature of Barry Lopez, an all-time favorite here: Thanks, Mark!
chris at
6:15 PM
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Coming up later this evening: announcement of a new Texfiles Poet of the Week!
As soon as I finish the work I have right now at work, and go to get groceries, and get home, fix dinner, eat, & all that good stuff, then I am going to post, first, Geoffrey Chaucer's B stanza (from his ABCs poem--see below), and then, the new Texfiles feature. I'm excited about the new feature--I think y'all will be, too!
Lookin' forward, then...
: )
cm
chris at
6:00 PM
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Sunday, May 02, 2004
Letter A from (YaY!!) Geoffrey Chaucer *
( I will be posting this poem in its stanza-sections (as ABCs, one each day-or-so) :
Prier A Nostre Dame
-- Of Our Lady the ABC --
Incipit carmen secundum ordinem litterarum alphabeticum.
Almyghty and al mercyable quene,
To whom that al this world fleeth for socour,
To have relees of synne, os sorwe, of tene,
Gloriouse virgyne, of alle floures flour,
To the I flee, confounded in errour.
Help and releve, thow myghty debonayre,
Have mercy of my perilouse languor.
Venquysshed hath me my cruel adversayre.
...
(673)
* The Complete Poetry and Prose of Geoffrey Chaucer. John H. Fisher, Editor. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Wilson, 1977.
chris at
5:28 PM
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Have I mentioned that it is a gorgeous day here today? Very sunny-blue.
& on this week's Texfiles IMHumbleO Series:
I find I am captivated by Dale Smith's Black Stone Series at the Possum Pouch. There is something about a serial development of a subject that makes one keep returning to see what interesting thing will happen or has happened next--you see the facinating problem right there in the question of verb tense in reference to this: should it be conditional, does it occur as a past event or does it belong to a conditional future? Where is its eventuality, its activity? How to say?
So that more simply, in that regard a series reflects fundamental essences, desires, and rhetorical situating. In the example of Dale's series, essences of textual and artistic endeavor dovetail with the experience of everyday life--and to add another level of facinating paradox to the motion, the experience of anticipating a future fact of birth. This is the "thick description" elucidated Clifford Geertz, yet with the added twist that it is artistically commited, rather than merely attempting to stand outside real life (which in turn makes of real life merely an object or artifact to be figured out or placed within an a-priori taxonomy).
And this is meta, since a series is so like reading and writing,wherein the on-going subject material unfolds in its own _medias ras_, its continual movement, yet is also simultaneously and of necessity, slowed to a place, a page, a screen, which should be noted as continually incomplete because ever in mid-process.
Lovely work here, Dale--thank you for this great series to read.
Best Wishes,
cm
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