The Book Tour (for Frank O’Hara)
by Dennis Sullivan
when i wrote a book
with my friend larry
a socialist anarchist thing,
publishers said nice
but no can do,
can you work a little state
and oppression in?
but we said no can do
and they said there, over there
there’s the door, get out.
not ones to cave
we headed next door and knocked,
told the publisher we had a book
on people’s everyday life struggle
to make it in the world
as cooperative beings
but the chief guy there said
cooperation’s out, passé—
though it never was in—
and life went on like this
for more than you can imagine
until we thought, hey
love compassion understanding
do not sell
which still holds true
love compassion understanding
do not sell
that’s why people keep buying
those halloween masks.
oh yes there was one publisher
who said he’d buy the book
if we included masks to wear
halloween or otherwise
he thought there’d be a market
he said he’d pay us
to wear masks for the book tour
the love compassion understanding
failure book tour,
the brought down by masks worn
masks paid to be worn book tour,
promising us in no time
we’d no longer know
when we wore the mask
and when we took it off.
he said it’d be like driving into town
and seeing a big painted sign saying
Welcome to America!
It's all about Dennis today. He is looking for recruits to attend the poetry day at the Lark Tavern on April 21. Several of us have expressed an interest... me, Tom, Timmy...if you want details, visit the link to Albany Poets. Dennis has also graciously succumbed to my pleadings to post THE BOOK TOUR on the blog and I am doing so. Poet O'Sullivan is one of the supporters of the appearance at VPL of Batt Burns, an Irish musician and storyteller who will be here on March 28. The performance is free and open to the public. If you have any interest, please come. Traveler O'Sullivan has also arranged a display of pictures and cards from his Irish experience in the library display case for the month of March.
I saw an announcement that Jamey Stevenson, who visited us about a month ago, is appearing at the Social Justice Center. It included a poem that I liked, so I emailed him and received a reply telling me that he had enjoyed the meeting he attended (with us old farts) and found us to be "supportive and challenging". Maybe we will see him again.
Mimi and Joyce and I are in the Peace Walk downtown on Sunday. We will be carrying signs with the name of a war casualty. My soldier is Lori Ann Piestewa, who was the first woman killed in the war in the skirmish which involved Jessica Lynch. Lori Ann was a 23-year-old Hopi mother of two very young children. The organizers are aiming for 3000+ walkers to represent all of the war dead. There is still time for you to join us.
Lily Alys
Some of Us
Dennis Sullivan, Beverly Osborne, Tom Corrado, Edie Abrams, Art Willis, Alan Casline (all seated); Paul Amidon, Mike Burke, Tim Verhaegen, Mark O'Brien, Barbara Vink, Philomena Moriarty
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Friday, March 9, 2007
Chicken Wings
First off, we consumed a considerable number of chicken wings and fries at Smitty's after last night's meeting. (Kathy could retire to Ravena on her tip.) The root beer was icy and delicious. I don't know what the other end of the table was drinking.
THE BLOG
At the meeting, we talked about the blog, now up and running which, if you are reading this, is obvious, and discussed how to pick which poems to post. Anyone can nominate one of their own or someone else's but the ultimate decision will be mine...THE BLOGMASTER!!! Blog poems will have to be emailed to me as I don't want to retype. I will not publish any without the author's permission. Dennis pointed out that any poem posted here could be considered "published" and the writer would lose the distinction of submitting it as an unpublished work.
Also, if anyone wants their short bio on the blog changed, I can do so. I have already fixed a couple this morning and added a link to obeedude's new blog, which is terrific - check it out.
THE POEMS
Dennis produced the masterpiece of the night called The Book Tour which encouraged a little social anarchy. My personal favorite. Tim gave us insight into his childhood with Matchbox Cars. At Tim's urging I read Peaches Jubilee about having dinner last week, but did not bother to take criticism because I knew it was doggerel (which is really bad rhyming poetry). I found myself amusing, tho.
Gary regaled us with a redo of the golf epic he recited at Christmas. Because of its length, we decided to look it over at home this week and bring our suggestions to the next meeting. Joyce had two short cats poems, one particularly elegant. Philomena did spiders in the bathroom, Tante Catrine did two-year olds, Art did a rumination on an old house.
Tom was back after many questions about his absence, and did his own thing with a line I liked about "brown bagger's leftovers smoldering in the heat". Paul continues in a new vein with a really good driving poem complete with Nascar references. Mimi had a winner, too, in Occupation, which was fine the way it was, but inspired some suggestions. Alan took the most heat from Mark who brutally told him his "This is How to Love Me" was full of cliches. We are a tough bunch.
APRIL 14 and misc.
You should all be thinking about what your personal contribution to poetry day will be (besides a breakfast item). I encourage you to "perform" at least one piece, bring props, wear a costume, go wild, etc. Joyce's husband Steve has graciously agreed to bring some musician friends to play. We must practice Art's performance piece. Bring lots of poems. Let's not be boring.
I forgot to mention there is a stack of old poetry magazines on the counter in my office which are up for grabs. Feel free to take any or all.
Mimi and Joyce and I are marching in the Peace Walk at the Capitol on March 18. If anyone wants to join in, talk to one of us. We need company.
BTW, I brought my gavel last night and only had to use it a couple of times.
Now post some comments, guys.
THE BLOG
At the meeting, we talked about the blog, now up and running which, if you are reading this, is obvious, and discussed how to pick which poems to post. Anyone can nominate one of their own or someone else's but the ultimate decision will be mine...THE BLOGMASTER!!! Blog poems will have to be emailed to me as I don't want to retype. I will not publish any without the author's permission. Dennis pointed out that any poem posted here could be considered "published" and the writer would lose the distinction of submitting it as an unpublished work.
Also, if anyone wants their short bio on the blog changed, I can do so. I have already fixed a couple this morning and added a link to obeedude's new blog, which is terrific - check it out.
THE POEMS
Dennis produced the masterpiece of the night called The Book Tour which encouraged a little social anarchy. My personal favorite. Tim gave us insight into his childhood with Matchbox Cars. At Tim's urging I read Peaches Jubilee about having dinner last week, but did not bother to take criticism because I knew it was doggerel (which is really bad rhyming poetry). I found myself amusing, tho.
Gary regaled us with a redo of the golf epic he recited at Christmas. Because of its length, we decided to look it over at home this week and bring our suggestions to the next meeting. Joyce had two short cats poems, one particularly elegant. Philomena did spiders in the bathroom, Tante Catrine did two-year olds, Art did a rumination on an old house.
Tom was back after many questions about his absence, and did his own thing with a line I liked about "brown bagger's leftovers smoldering in the heat". Paul continues in a new vein with a really good driving poem complete with Nascar references. Mimi had a winner, too, in Occupation, which was fine the way it was, but inspired some suggestions. Alan took the most heat from Mark who brutally told him his "This is How to Love Me" was full of cliches. We are a tough bunch.
APRIL 14 and misc.
You should all be thinking about what your personal contribution to poetry day will be (besides a breakfast item). I encourage you to "perform" at least one piece, bring props, wear a costume, go wild, etc. Joyce's husband Steve has graciously agreed to bring some musician friends to play. We must practice Art's performance piece. Bring lots of poems. Let's not be boring.
I forgot to mention there is a stack of old poetry magazines on the counter in my office which are up for grabs. Feel free to take any or all.
Mimi and Joyce and I are marching in the Peace Walk at the Capitol on March 18. If anyone wants to join in, talk to one of us. We need company.
BTW, I brought my gavel last night and only had to use it a couple of times.
Now post some comments, guys.
Friday, March 2, 2007
OPENINGS by Tom Corrado
The impastos and gouaches in the small gallery
on the third floor, the long-limbed bronzes
crowding the poorly-lit hallways, the after-hour
departures rehung as an homage to the lives
of the long coats and wide-brimmed hats
that filled the spaces between the shows
and now daily wait for the commuter train
and the safety of the suburbs, are not unlike
the visitors who drift through, stopping
occasionally for a closer look at the work
of the brush or painting knife, the blending
of color, the play of light and dark, scribbling
their lives, page after page, revision upon revision,
against the collage of trees in the courtyard
with their empty limbs moving to the rhythm
of the wind amid the color fields of the seasons
and their unmet promises, their table settings,
their half-filled water glasses.
Welcome to our blog, guys. It is still under construction, but I wanted you to get a glimpse of it. I haven't quite worked the kinks out. I love this blog and want to make additions to it with pictures and comments from you.
Be sure to go all the way to the bottom.
Lily Alys
on the third floor, the long-limbed bronzes
crowding the poorly-lit hallways, the after-hour
departures rehung as an homage to the lives
of the long coats and wide-brimmed hats
that filled the spaces between the shows
and now daily wait for the commuter train
and the safety of the suburbs, are not unlike
the visitors who drift through, stopping
occasionally for a closer look at the work
of the brush or painting knife, the blending
of color, the play of light and dark, scribbling
their lives, page after page, revision upon revision,
against the collage of trees in the courtyard
with their empty limbs moving to the rhythm
of the wind amid the color fields of the seasons
and their unmet promises, their table settings,
their half-filled water glasses.
Welcome to our blog, guys. It is still under construction, but I wanted you to get a glimpse of it. I haven't quite worked the kinks out. I love this blog and want to make additions to it with pictures and comments from you.
Be sure to go all the way to the bottom.
Lily Alys
Friday, February 23, 2007
Tim's Elevator Lady
First, my disclaimer: the information in this email is entirely my own interpretation of the events of last night. If I say something wrong, forgive me or beat me up but don't yell at me. I don't like yelling. When the blog gets going (see next paragraph) you will have an opportunity to blog your responses.
Okay -
Although several of our stalwart attendees did not attend, we still had ten at poetry last night. Mark appeared unexpectedly, and with a really good poem about his "wizen" face. He and Alan got a look at our work-in-progress EOTNP blog which should be up and running by next week. When I get it finished, I will send you the info to find it. Dennis, I'm sorry, we got talking about the blog and I forgot to print out your poem.
My poem of the evening vote goes to Tim who presented an outstanding character sketch of a woman with a cell phone on an elevator. Paul read us a touching encounter regarding a wood stove. Alan had several exquisite lines about the wind in the middle of a solid poem. Mimi compared politics and weather, everyone liked it. Philomena went a little documentary with meerkats - she is going to revise, I think. Joyce became the "Rock Lady". I became nothing.
Alan presented us all with a handstitched edition of some of his poems, with his own linoleum block print cover. I liked "Little Things", Alan.
We attracted a young guy with gorgeous blue eyes who read about us on the Albany Poets website, but we succeeded in scaring him away.
Cathy stayed home to watch Grey's Anatomy. (joke!)
Mike left for Mexico on the day of the snowstorm. I assume he was not on Jet Blue.
We attempted to decipher a post card from Dennis who is guzzling Guiness in the old country. Something about writing on a "stewardess".
Lily Alys
Okay -
Although several of our stalwart attendees did not attend, we still had ten at poetry last night. Mark appeared unexpectedly, and with a really good poem about his "wizen" face. He and Alan got a look at our work-in-progress EOTNP blog which should be up and running by next week. When I get it finished, I will send you the info to find it. Dennis, I'm sorry, we got talking about the blog and I forgot to print out your poem.
My poem of the evening vote goes to Tim who presented an outstanding character sketch of a woman with a cell phone on an elevator. Paul read us a touching encounter regarding a wood stove. Alan had several exquisite lines about the wind in the middle of a solid poem. Mimi compared politics and weather, everyone liked it. Philomena went a little documentary with meerkats - she is going to revise, I think. Joyce became the "Rock Lady". I became nothing.
Alan presented us all with a handstitched edition of some of his poems, with his own linoleum block print cover. I liked "Little Things", Alan.
We attracted a young guy with gorgeous blue eyes who read about us on the Albany Poets website, but we succeeded in scaring him away.
Cathy stayed home to watch Grey's Anatomy. (joke!)
Mike left for Mexico on the day of the snowstorm. I assume he was not on Jet Blue.
We attempted to decipher a post card from Dennis who is guzzling Guiness in the old country. Something about writing on a "stewardess".
Lily Alys
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Santa at Smit's
Ten poets - the new time and system seems to be working and we finished a little early, actually.
As for our poems - Paul had an "existential breakthrough", Ryu made conversation, Mike contributed a Valentine poem with a deadly ending. Art presented an unusual piece we decided to work on for performance. And, personally, I felt that Dennis wrote a masterpiece.
Only five of us made it to Smit's, where Santa Dennis treated us with a gift certificate from a Christmas appearance. Btw, new management at Nichol's has Mark scheduled to work on Thursday nights indefinitely. You will have to see him in the aisles for a while.
Poetry day is definitely April 14 and begins with pot luck brunch here at the library at 11 a.m. Joyce's husband Steve and some of his fellow musicians from Comhaltus will be joining us to add a little Irish music to the festivities. I encourage all of you to work on something outstanding for the event - performance pieces, collaborations, costumes (!) - and ask friends and relatives to drop in. We will quit when we run out of steam, or by 4 p.m., whichever comes first.
Two from our midst are leaving the country next week: Dennis to Ireland and Mike to Mexico. Happy trails.
Next Thursday is Lifelines with Ally in charge.
As for me, this week I have dyed the gray out of my hair and rushed the dog to the vet so they could make him barf up a half bag of Hershey's kisses. I guess that's all.
Lily Alys (bv)
As for our poems - Paul had an "existential breakthrough", Ryu made conversation, Mike contributed a Valentine poem with a deadly ending. Art presented an unusual piece we decided to work on for performance. And, personally, I felt that Dennis wrote a masterpiece.
Only five of us made it to Smit's, where Santa Dennis treated us with a gift certificate from a Christmas appearance. Btw, new management at Nichol's has Mark scheduled to work on Thursday nights indefinitely. You will have to see him in the aisles for a while.
Poetry day is definitely April 14 and begins with pot luck brunch here at the library at 11 a.m. Joyce's husband Steve and some of his fellow musicians from Comhaltus will be joining us to add a little Irish music to the festivities. I encourage all of you to work on something outstanding for the event - performance pieces, collaborations, costumes (!) - and ask friends and relatives to drop in. We will quit when we run out of steam, or by 4 p.m., whichever comes first.
Two from our midst are leaving the country next week: Dennis to Ireland and Mike to Mexico. Happy trails.
Next Thursday is Lifelines with Ally in charge.
As for me, this week I have dyed the gray out of my hair and rushed the dog to the vet so they could make him barf up a half bag of Hershey's kisses. I guess that's all.
Lily Alys (bv)
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