Rocketship 7

Artvoice interview

2006-08-31T07:27:00.000-07:00

Read me trying to be articulate. And for those in Buffalo, the launch details:

Launch of P-Queue & Pilot
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1ST
8PM
@ RUST BELT BOOKS
202 ALLEN ST. (near the corner of Allen & Elmwood)

Featuring readings & performances by:

Michael Basinski
James Currie
Zack Finch
Brian Mornar
Joanna Raczynska
Angela Szczepaniak
Kevin Thurston

Announcing the release of Pilot: A Journal of Contemporary Poetry

2006-08-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

Pilot: A Journal of Contemporary Poetry

Featuring poetry by:

Tony Lopez
Boi-Lucia Gbaya
Lisa Robertson
Allen Fisher
Rodrigo Toscano
Karen Mac Cormack
Ric Royer
Rachel Zolf
Kevin Thurston
Alan Halsey
Jeff Derksen
Chris Fritton
Ashton Royce
Angela Szczepaniak
Geoff Hlibchuk
Redell Olsen
Adrian Clarke
Derek Beaulieu

Schablone Berlin review

Featuring an audio interview with Michael Basinski

For a free copy of Pilot please contact me at odiorne2000@yahoo.com. We, of course, accept donations that will help fund our mailings.

Jim Morrison's fans c. 1991

2006-08-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

"Dedication"

JIM MORRISON wishes to dedicate these works to the one person who has been a true friend to him in life and in death, that person being Ray Manzarek. (Ray, if you should ever read this, we all want you to know that Jim loves you very much.)

----

"You Murdered My Banana"

You murdered my banana
And I am not sure why
But you say that
You set it in the sun
To turn it black
Just because you thought
I like black things

The liking of darkness
Does not extend to bananas
I'm afraid
Besides, it is mushy inside

----

"I Took the Snake To the Market"

I took the snake
To the market
The Clerk said
Park it
But that would
Never do

He's Oliver, I cried
How can you
Even think
He'd stay in
One place?

Look at his little snakeness face
Can't you see a trace
Of deception in his eyes?
You hold him I said
Hold him by his little snake head
You must not let him free
He's threatened to make a movie

But before the words left my mouth
That snake was heading South
Straight to Hollywood and Vine
With a pencil in his mouth
Saying sign on the dotted line

Densmore was the first to fall
Then all, all, all
But the lizard
Lined up the wall
Hearing the serpents call

Celery Flute: A Kenneth Patchen Newsletter

2006-08-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

For a review of Celery Flute, go to Ron's site. I will simply play cheerleader here, and encourage people to subscribe to this fine journal.

The first issue costs $7 and a four issue subscription is $20 for individuals, $35 for institutions, check or money order payable to Douglas Manson & sent to Celery Flute, 425 Bird Ave., Apt. 2 Buffalo, NY 14213-1235

And photos from the launch of our contributors.

Doug Manson

Michael Basinski

A little something came up, but only to the back of my throat

2006-08-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

C'mon kids, let's go to Army World!
from CNN.com (8/08/06)

FORT BELVOIR, Virginia (AP) -- The Army is considering a proposal to allow a private developer to build a military-themed park that would include Cobra Gunship rides and bars including a "1st Division Lounge."
Military officials said a massive entertainment and hotel complex built next to a national Army museum could draw more than 1 million people a year. But authorities in Fairfax County are objecting because of already traffic-clogged roads surrounding the proposed site.
Universal City Property Management III, of Orlando, Florida, submitted the unsolicited proposal for the theme park last year.
"You can command the latest M-1 tank, feel the rush of a paratrooper freefall, fly a Cobra Gunship or defend your B-17 as a waist gunner," according to the proposal, which was obtained by The Washington Post.
County officials have no authority over the Army's decision because the site is federal property. County Supervisor T. Dana Kauffman said he thought the entertainment concept died last year and said he had no interest in turning a military museum into "Disney on Rolling Road."
But the Army notified the county last week it is planning to move the military museum from Fort Belvoir to a site a few miles away that would be large enough for the entertainment complex.

Arthur Lee

2006-08-04T05:39:00.000-07:00

First Syd Barrett, now Arthur Lee. All my favorite '60's eccentrics are dying off.

Kittlers

2006-07-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

Fascist cats! This makes up for the fact our living room ceiling tried kill me last night by falling.

Western New York Book Arts Collaborative Open House

2006-07-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
If you are in the vicinity, come to the Karpeles.

This is what happens when I hang out at Thurston's

2006-07-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Not that I could realistically place cause in Kevin's corner for this headbutt, but it seemed like something he would plan. All quite on the poetic front otherwise.

FYI, for those of you who didn't witness this, that is a headbutt to the chest.

Panic In the Attic!: Success!

2006-07-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

Props to Kevin Thurston for "Panic In the Attic," which I hope will prove to be a longrunning series. Thanks to free thunderstorms, a nearby tornado, and hail in the mid-afternoon, the evening was cool enough to inhabit the panicked attic. The official head count was 30 people plus our hosts, and covered a wide range of interests, backgrounds, affiliations, etc.

Ted Pelton led off reading all the sex scenes from his new book - Malcolm & Jack - mainly because he felt he couldn't anywhere else. My favorite was the prep school boys pseudo-sex during a piggyback race.

Ted was followed by Robin Brox who "whored herself up" (her words) for the event. I have been familiar with Robin's work for about 7 or 8 years now, and last night really proved to me how far along she has come. Powerful stuff.

Finally, Kevin Corbett is the great hidden wonder of Buffalo poetry. Playing a sampler, pedals, and Thurston plucking guitar strings, he orchestrated a soundscape of feedback, beats, and Red Fox saying "I am going to give you a sentence. This is the sentence." Good times.

Ted will be hosting another part in this series in September, and Holly & I are considering an event in our copious backyard in July or August, when panicked attics hibernate...so, stay tuned.

Cuneiform Press

2006-06-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

This press makes some of the prettiest books I have ever seen (and the poetry is great to boot).

Check it out.

Pierre Joris

2006-06-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

Great interview with Pierre Joris here.

On his first experience with Celan, theories of translation, what he's up to now...

Also, this links to "Ready Steady Books," which I just found this morning, but it looks promising.

Stephen Joyce - James Joyce - Why Joyce

2006-06-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

Great article in the "New Yorker" of all places on Stephen Joyce and his conflict with the "Joyce world." Worth a read, especially for you folks who have ever read Joyce or worked at the Poetry Collection.

Despite what Jessica sez in her blog, you can't get this kind of infotainment with Virginia Woolf.

Odiorne

2006-06-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

I am not sure why I haven't included them earlier to this blog. This is more than kinship, this is essential music (and I am all over their press release).

Go to: www.odiorne.net

No, really go now.

Are you a Wordjock?

2006-06-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

Guess what audience this mag had...I dunno, but I think it is all sorts of beautiful. (c. late '60's-early '70's).

Things I find at work

2006-06-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

This is from a 1928 New York Herald (European edition) that I was scanning for something "more important."

I love my job.

This is how I schmooze

2006-06-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

I am stage right schmoozing with Steve McCaffery & Karen Mac Cormack (& a cropped out Tom Raworth).

For those who know, for those who care:

Photos from Creeley at 80:

http://www.geoffreygatza.com/RC80/

Sean Bonney

2006-06-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Thurston for reminding me I like the following poet very much:

Sean Bonney (http://abandonedbuildings.blogspot.com/)

Or his BEPC page: http://www.soton.ac.uk/~bepc/poets/Bonney.htm
Which contains the following description of his current writing "state":

"He is attempting to formulate a poetics of total critique, which appears to be a synthesis of social detail, historic fact, Marxist theory, pornography and random insult. This has yet to be achieved."

His collection Blade Pitch Control Unit is available from Salt Publishing.

Two new things to love about Buffalo

2006-05-31T06:35:00.000-07:00

Aside from the Sabres, two things happened in the last few days which provided further confirmation that I am in the right city:

1.) The Gratwick Peonies (linwoodgardens.org). This the Estate where the likes of WCW, Olson, Langston Hughes, Ansel Adams, etc. stayed when they came to Buffalo. It is huge, it is rundown, and it is beautiful. Crazy Bill Gratwick hybridized tree peonies in his infinite free time, and even named one "Ezra Pound" (right next to "Captain's Concubine").

2.) A few of us viewed a 16mm collage film that Jess made c. late '50's-early '60's with experimental filmmaker Laurence Jordan (himself a onetime assistant to Joseph Cornell). Two Duncan scholars in the room, and no one had seen these collages before. I don't think this film has been viewed since Jess made it. Thanks to the Poetry Collection here, I got a chance.

Yes, I am bragging, but those of you who want to live in the South, this is what you miss. Besides, I am sweating like a southerner right now. Hee-hee.

Oh My, Hawaii (Part Seven)

2006-05-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

XX

XXI

XXII

XXIII

Oh My, Hawaii (Part Six)

2006-05-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

XVI

XVII

XVIII

XIX

Oh My, Hawaii (Part Five)

2006-05-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

XIII

XIV

XV

Oh My, Hawaii (Part Four)

2006-05-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

X

XI

XII

Oh My, Hawaii (Part Three)

2006-05-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

VII

VIII

IX

Oh My, Hawaii (Part Two)

2006-05-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

IV

V

VI

Until I get finesse

2006-05-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

When you click on these images, please make sure to enlarge to see the text. (Button should appear on the lower right of the image). Apologies if this tech advice seems obvious. I am going to re-format these soon so this issue will not arise, but for now...enjoy!

Oh My, Hawaii (Part One)

2006-05-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

I

II

III

Oh My, Hawaii

2006-05-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
Stay tuned for a cleaned up digital version of "Oh My, Hawaii." For those who know, you should be happy. For those who don't know, it has taken me way too long to do anything with this piece.

BTW, I am having fun pissing off people who barely know me, but lay claims about my person from afar. Stay tuned.

Creeley tribute coverage

2006-05-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

a.) The best part of the night was the taped recordings of Bob reading.
b.) Tom Raworth's performance was a close second.
c.) Josh Strauss climbing on stage and sitting at the grand piano next to Amiri Baraka, while Amiri was reading, and freaking out half the organizers in the process (four of them were ready to yank him off the stage), was a particular favorite. I saw Josh the next day at a Regal cinema, in uniform, sweeping off Vince Vaughn & Jennifer Aniston's movie display with a broom, drawing stares.
d.) Bill Sylvester's performance which I need to find a recording of so I can post. Pure genius.
e.)Various Kevin Thurston snubs (he is bandaged together with the gauze of Io's dying words and fucking lies).
f.) My sweater has holes.
g.) Bruce Jackson's interruption of Mike's performance (people can't hear you in the back).
h.) Bruce Jackson is a myth.

Tom Raworth

2006-05-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Go read Tom Raworth.

Perhaps start at tomraworth.com or epc.buffalo.edu/authors/raworth

But for your own sake, read the man!

Unseemly

2006-05-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
Creeley circus this weekend. All of Buffalo gets to come out and claim Bob as their very own.

I can't wait.

I am excited about Tom Raworth and DJ Caps (aka Will Creeley).

Otherwise, it is a "funferall" only lacking rides.

I need to be publicly humiliated more often.

2006-05-17T09:53:00.000-07:00