52nd City: Poetry & Literature

Brock! Such language!

Poetry Scores' "Experiential Auction" Set

There are ideas and there are ideas. A couple years on, I'm still jealous of this idea: the Experiential Auction, which benefits Poetry Scores.

You can read about the organization and the event at a blog for the September 21 event, which will take place at the Atomic Cowboy. Have to say, thinking that the Jeff Miller singing telegram might be the keeper of the batch. And, of course, our own Stefene Russell's donated experience, a tarot reading.

Here's the list.

(A few of these experiences I would pay to never have to experience. Will stay mum on that list.)

Castro on Food

Here's the bio of Michael Castro:

Michael Castro is a poet, translator, and performance artist. He is the co-founder of the literary organization and magazine, River Styx, in operation in St. Louis since 1975. He has hosted three poetry radio programs, broadcasting poetry programming over twenty years and has published ten books of poetry. Castro teaches at Lindenwood University, where he founded the MFA in Writing Program.

Here's the lovely piece he wrote for our online edition:

Chili-Mac

Lyle on 52nd City

Rather than inviting you to check out the entire, new, online edition of 52nd City, we'll occasionally give you a reminder that there's some fine stuff in our FOOD edition.

One of the pieces that we'd definitely invite you to peruse is "Hermetic Rice: From a History of Foods from Downtown Atlantis." We've been lucky enough to have published a variety of works from K. Curtis Lyle over the past few years, one of our most-regular "regulars' in the print edition.

This time out, his work's available for all, free of charge, in the digital form. To say it's a worth a read is serious understatement. With a nod to photographer Andrea Day, whose work accompanies Lyle's piece, here's a link to "Hermetic Rice."

Enjoy.

Get Born: Tomorrow (Monday) @ Duff's

Our main man, Brett Lars Underwood, is hooking us up with information on the next Get Born reading, which happens to be... right about now.

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Tomorrow August 4th
Get Born @ Duffs 392 N. Euclid
www.dineatduffs.com
6:00 P.M.
2.00$

Readers include: Lauren Keefer, Benjamin Mankus, Sreeja, Brock Walker, Tim Kenny, Mathieu Paul, Dwight Bitikofer, Phil Gounis,a nd many more TBA. Music by Guitar Mat of The Rumdrum Ramblers.

Lumberyard # 2

straight from the desk of the one and only Eric Woods -

RELEASE PARTY - 08-08-08 -
AT the FIRECRACKER PRESS

August 8th, 2008 6pm - 10pm

the Firecracker Press
2838 Cherokee St.
StLMO 63118

The Lumberyard issue #2 is hot off the press. If this issue looks innocentdon't be fooled - peek under the covers and you might be surprised. Hot dog!We'll be hosting a release party with a live DJ, multimedia projections of poetry and imagery all over the place, and plenty of magazines for sale. Stop by to support local artists and have a great time doing it.

t|h|e| |F|I|R|E|C|R|A|C|K|E|R| |P|R|E|S|S|+-+-+-
2838 Cherokee St. - StLMO 63118
Tel (314)776-7271
Web www.firecrackerpress.com

Chris King: Blogging

Here.

Dishes stay dirty

Author Abby Banks traveled to 25 cities and photographed more than 50 houses in order to compile Punk House: Interiors in Anarchy, a coffee table-sized book featuring pictures of anarchy warehouses, artists' studios, hobo squats, treehouses, communes and basement bike shops as well as their denizens. During her travels, Banks took over 6,000 photos and winnowed her haul down to the 300 images that appear in Punk House. Walls plastered with fliers, posters, graffiti. Cigarette butts crushed into carpeting. Rooms crammed with half-finished art projects, salvaged furniture, stacks of books and magazines, piles of records and tangles of cords and music equipment. Banks captures every squalid detail. I leafed through Punk House at Subterranean, but put it back on the shelf after noticing its un-punk $30 price tag.

Kokopilau

While I was in Utah this past week (Yikes! Long weird story, that - and for a later time) Brett Underwood filled in for me on KDHX's Literature for the Halibut, an act that is like a subletter sub-letting, as I am a bit of a once-a-month relief pitcher for Ann Haubrich and Janie Ibur. Because I didn't really have access to a computer while I was away, I wasn't able to stream Brett's show in real time, but I listened to it last night and if I had been wearing socks, it would have knocked them off. Hey played excerpts from a new Freedonia Music release, "Kokopilau," featuring our own Michael Castro (founder of River Styx and for many years the host of KDHX's "Poetry Beat") and trumpeter DJ Parran. Freedonia's online catalog describes it as "A ceremony of the ancient future celebrating a 30 year collaboration between multi-instrumental Horn Master JD Parran & Warrior Poet Michael Castro that began with the St. Louis Black Artist Group & The Human Arts Ensemble in the 1970s. Retelling mythic tales of life death & rebirth with voice, tenor sax, indigenous hand crafted instruments and postmodern techniques. A spontaneous bop kabbalah." And, unlike most marketingspiel, they are telling the truth. You can download Brett's show here. Warning you, though, if you are like me, it will make you want to pick up the CD ... I know you can get it through Freedonia's site, but if Mr. Underwood tips me off to other joints carrying the disc, I will surely post it here.

Now, one more bit of news: this Thursday, Janie and Ann will be conducting an exit interview with our soon-to-be-departed Aaron Belz. He's a quick wit on the radio, so don't take a big pull off your soda while he's quipping, or you'll find yourself with a nasal cavity full of carbonation. Don't say we didn't warn you!

Read your ramblings: David Sedaris book tour

Memoirist David Sedaris' newest collection of essays When You Are Engulfed in Flames came out June 3. (Notable: My copy of Naked, Sedaris' second book, was actually engulfed in flames after I lent it to my friend Joe and his apartment was destroyed in a freak fire.) In past essays, Sedaris honed his self-deprecatory wit, regaling readers with tales of his sister's first menstruation, his hitchhiking experiences, and his stint working as an elf at Macy's SantaLand. When You Are Engulfed in Flames follows Sedaris and his longtime boyfriend Hugh as they journey to Hiroshima in an effort to kick Sedaris' 30-year long smoking habit. Sedaris will appear at Left Bank Books at 7 p.m. June 17 for a reading and book signing.

P.S. R. Kelly acquitted! Apparently, the jury took, like, ten minutes to deliberate before returning the verdict. Can I get a beep beep?!

Belz Rules Poetry

Oh, my goodness.

Possibly the funniest thing I heard in some time. Let's just say it is. The funniest thing I've heard in some time.

Local (for now) poet Aaron Belz has taken over poetry.

Listen here: www.belz.net. Look on the right side of the page. Scroll down. Click the play button. Enjoy the finest bit of self-promotion you'll come across today.

Summer reading list

I promise this isn’t one of those pretentious reading lists where I pretend to enjoy — or even understand — Kafka and Sartre. Rather, it’s a documented effort not to be one of those shitty adults who still lists Lois Lowry’s The Giver as her favorite book. This summer I’m reading:

Literal Madness by Kathy Acker
I read Acker’s Blood and Guts in High School over winter vacation and liked it so much that when I later stumbled upon a scrawl of bathroom graffiti proclaiming: “Joseph Campbell gave me hope, and now I have been saved,” I scratched out “Joseph Campbell” and wrote “Kathy Acker.” Literal Madness is a collection of three of Acker’s novels, and I’m still plodding through the first, Kathy Goes to Haiti.

Neon Wilderness by Nelson Algren
My only reason for wanting to read this book is that Windy City music maven Jessica Hopper recommended it several times in her Punk Planet column.

All the required readings from my friend Jenn’s women’s studies class
So far, I’ve made it through Laurie Notaro’s The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club and Koren Zalickas’ Smashed: Stories of a Drunken Girlhood. I really liked the former. Notaro, a Phoenix humor columnist, reminds me of David Sedaris, and the two undoubtedly function on the same level of estrogen. Meanwhile, Zalickas’ book wasn’t nearly as much fun — probably due to the subject matter with which it dealt. Somewhere around page 250, I noticed the book begin to drag. Burdened with an attention span rivaling a gnat’s, I’ve always been drawn to Ramones songs and novellas, and Zalickas’ determination to recount every one of her benders started to irk me. Still, reading Zalickas’ account of her struggle with booze is better than reading Elizabeth Wurtzel’s memoirs, but then what isn’t? Up next is what promises to be a riveting read: a book called Women and Workplace Discrimination.

Mary Jo Bang

When I think of the Underwood Poetry series that ran in St. Louis for around five years around five years back, I think of the poet Mary Jo Bang. Not just because she read at the series (at the second Urbis Orbis, I believe), but because founder Kent Shaw sang her praises whenever possible.

The St. Louisan is given the Q/A treatment in the current edition of Stop Smiling Magazine, but the full interview is found online here.

Have Some Class: Hear Some Poetry

Aaron Belz (and family, of course) depart our great city in coming months, leaving the long-running Observable Readings in a period of transition. This week, though, you get quality poetry and inimitable introductions of the founder. You really should go. Details below.

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Hey Observaballers -

Thursday is my last night acting as host for this fine series. I hope you'll
come out and say hello.

Aaron

Ken Rumble is the author of Key Bridge (Carolina Wren Press, 2007) and a contributing editor for the magazine Fascicle. His poems have appeared in Talisman, Parakeet, Typo, Cutbank, Octopus, Cranky, One Less Magazine, and
others. He lives in Greensboro, NC, and works for the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art.

Matt Freeman's most recent book, The Dogtown Poet, was published by Ginninderra Press. Matt studied writing at NYU and has performed his poems and songs all over the United States. His work has been published in journals both small and big. He lives in St. Louis, where he is a full-time poet.

More info at http://observable. org/

http://bestof. riverfronttimes. com/bestof/ award.php? award=377202

Thanks to Meramec Writing Festival

The Meramec Writing Festival concluded a three-day run at the suburban STLCC campus today. Thanks to Richard Long and the other organizers for having us out this afternoon, with a workshop on lit mag publishing. We look forward to a spate of Meramec-affiliated contributions in coming weeks and months.

Rock the Belz

Okay, before you do anything else, go get your calendar. Or your Blackberry. Or at least get a pen so you can write these dates on your hand for future reference.

Okay, you got your pen, plus your calendar/hand/scrap of paper? Now, write down April 1 and April 3.

Here's why:

First, on April 1, the superlative & brilliant Aaron Belz will be reading from his new book, The Bird Hoverer (of which I have a copy, a well-read copy, so I can vouch for its brilliance). You may or may not know that Mr. Belz is the curator of the Observable poetry series at Schlafly Bottleworks, and that he is personally responsible for bringing poets like Robin Schiff and Gabriel Gudding to St. Louis. Mr. Belz's fine taste in poetry springs from his own poetic genius, and you'll get a first-hand taste of that on April Fool's Day. Where, you ask? At the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar, at 8 p.m.

Then, two days later on April 3, you can see for yourself what a great poetic curator Aaron is, at this month's Observable reading (which, as I mentioned before, takes place at the Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest - also at 8 p.m.) Yep, this is the blowout first-name reading for 2008. EIGHT KATES. As one of the participants in the first first-name reading back in '04 (the legendary Three Stephanies Reading) I can also vouch for the brillance of this particular school of poetic categorization. Here's the skinny on the eight Kates, lifted from the Observable website:

April 3 – Eight Kates: Colby, Marvin, Ford, Greenstreet, Peterson, Pringle, Schapira, Lederer

Kate Colby is author of Unbecoming Behavior (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2007) and Fruitlands (Litmus Press, 2006). Recent work can be found in Bay Poetics, New American Writing and Vanitas. She lives in Providence.

Cate Marvin's first book, World's Tallest Disaster (Sarabande, 2001), was awarded the Kathryn A. Morton Prize by Robert Pinksy. She is co-editor with Michael Dumanis of Legitimate Dangers: American Poets of the New Century (Sarabande, January 2006). Her poems have appeared in The Paris Review, Poetry, Slate, and elsewhere.

Katie Ford is the author of Deposition and Colosseum (Graywolf Press, 2002 and 2008), as well as a chapbook, Storm (Marick Press, 2007). Her work has appeared in The American Poetry Review, Poets & Writers, Partisan Review, Seneca Review, and Ploughshares. She is Poetry Editor of New Orleans Review and currently teaches at Franklin & Marshall College.

Kate Greenstreet is the author of case sensitive (Ahsahta Press, 2006) and Learning the Language (Etherdome Press, 2005). Visit her online at kickingwind.com.

Katie Peterson is the author of This One Tree, published by New Issues. Beginning in the Fall of 2007, she will be the Robert Aird Professor of Humanities and Poet in Residence at Deep Springs College. She was born in California.

Kate Pringle has one chapbook: Temper and Felicity are Lovers, out on TAXT. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Fourteen Hills, 42opus, Alice Blue, Denver Quarterly, Dusie, foursquare, & more.

Kate Schapira lives and writes in Providence, where she organizes the Publicly Complex reading series, and teaches throughout Rhode Island. Her chapbook, Phoenix Memory, is available from horse less press.

Katy Lederer is the author of Winter Sex (Verse Press, 2002) and The Heaven-Sent Leaf (BOA Editions, forthcoming 2008), as well as the memoir Poker Face: A Girlhood Among Gamblers (Crown, 2003).

Whew. If that isn't a tour de force, I don't know what is. Now, go read some Aaron Belz poems at meaningless.com and prepare to be steamrollered by them, in a good way. If you think poetry readings are boring (I agree with you there, most of the time) I'll say that I have quite a few friends who don't even like poetry, or poetry readings, who refuse to miss the first Thursday at Bottleworks...

Writing Workshop Interest Ya?

Ryan Miller, who'll be contributing to the upcoming "Sexy" issue of 52nd City - keep your late April eyes open for that - is going to be offering a very affordable, seven-week writing workshop, with a rather centralized location, to boot. If your Wednesday nights in April and May are open and if you've wanted to take on a creative project and if you don't wish to pay a mint for the opportunity... well, this may be an option for you.

Let's send you here, to Ryan's blog, for the full skinny. (In fact, there are some interesting things on that blog, including a cameo by local civic treasure The Ubiquitous Lori White.)

Brett won't be there this week, but...

Hey everyone—hope you can come out—we'll have the current issue of 52nd City and ALL BACK ISSUES for sale. An added bonus: the poets will be great. They are young and have a young sensibility (read: pop, street-smart). -A

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Observable Readings presents
Andrew Zawacki, Kristy Odelius, and Simone Muench
Thursday, March 6, 2008 – 8PM
Schlafly Bottleworks, Maplewood MO

Andrew Zawacki is the author of two books of poetry—Anabranch and By Reason of Breakings (winner of the Contemporary Poetry Series)—as well as editor of the anthology Afterwards: Slovenian Writing 1945-1995. His long poem 'Georgia' won the 1913 Prize and is due from Katalanché Press. He is coeditor of Verse and of The Verse Book of Interviews.

Kristy Odelius lives in Chicago, where she teaches creative writing and literature at North Park University. She is a co-editor and co-founder of Near South, a Chicago-based journal of innovative writing. Her work has appeared, or is forthcoming in a variety of journals, including Chicago Review, Another Chicago Magazine, and Diagram and her first book, Strange Trades, will be published in 2008 by Shearsman Books (UK).

Simone Muench's second book Lampblack & Ash received the Kathryn A. Morton Prize (Sarabande, 2005). Her latest chapbooks are Orange Girl (dancing girl press) and Sonoluminescence (with Bill Allegrezza, Dusie Press). She has poems appearing in Iowa Review, Denver Quarterly, LUNA and others. She directs the Writing Program at Lewis University, serves on the board for Switchback Books, and is an editor for Sharkforum.

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For more information, directions, etc., visit http://observable.org

Arts Update #3: Lumberyard

Firecracker Press founder Eric Woods and his Louisville-based sister, Jen Woods, have created a new, twice-annual lit mag, Lumberyard. Bunch of STL names in the first edition and we look forward to the second. In the meantime, here's a clip from the Louisville press, giving a sense of the project.

Observable @ Royale

It was only a week ago, no, less! The last Observable Reading at the Bottleworks had all the usual sights-and-sounds. Aaron Belz's witty intros. Brett Underwood's equally amusing crack from behind the bar. A trio of poets and a full house of attendees. And poetry. Lots of poetry.

This week's Observable joint is a different affair. Different bar (Royale), different format (dramatic readings of bad song lyrics), though same night (Thursday).

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Hey everyone -

Last year this thing was completely hilarious -
http://stl.typepad. com/gatewaygroup ies/2008/ 01/valentines- mass.html

Ask Kim Humphries.

This year it will be emceed by Byron Kerman and Julie Dill.

I hope you'll come out.

Aaron

New Belz Book

As an avid reader of blogs great and small, I caught this little notice on Aaron Belz's just yesterday:

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my second book! yay!
Saturday, January 12, 2008

News just came through the wire that my second book, Direction, will be published by Persea Books! Hooray! Big sigh of relief!

Chapbook Sale @ Observable

Who loves poetry?

Who loves poetry in chapbook form?

Who loves to get a really good deal on chapbooks?

Then, I submit the following, submitted to us by our main man, Aaron Belz:

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Hey all -

Observable Books wants to sell fifty chapbooks this week, so if you order a Gabe Gudding or Cole Swensen chapbook ($8), you'll get one of the Observable anthologies (of your choice) FREE. I'm ending the offer Friday at midnight. No shipping charges! Paypal accepted.

http://observable. org/books/

These books are designed and printed by Firecracker and are really gorgeous.

Aaron

Observable Tonight

Need some culture tonight? Some beer? Aaron Belz is making the former available and Brett Underwood will set you with the latter. Observable tonight!

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Reminder, tonight Dana Goodyear, author of Honey and Junk (Norton, 2005) and former senior editor of the New Yorker, will read with Aliki Barnstone, poet-in-residence at Mizzou and author of Blue Earth (Iris Press, 2004).

The latest RFT ran a nice notice -
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/search/events.php?oid=445528

More info here, including directions -
http://observable.org

Hope to see you there!

Observable in December (Redux)

Last week, Aaron Belz hosted another Observable event at the Bottleworks, but that wintry mix kept the attendance down to a reported baker's dozen. Bummer!

There's a chance to get your poetic cultural fix this week, though. As in, real soon. Like, Thursday. Tomorrow. See ya.

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Join Observable Readings and StudioSTL at 8 pm on Thursday, December 13th, for a unique literary experience. Student writers from the StudioSTL anthology and poets from the Vivaldi symphony performances will read from their original works. Come help us support these young artists and future literary superstars.

http://observable.org

http://studiostl.org

"Go South" Closing Party

"Go South for Animal Index" - the art show, the CD, the whole shebang - is back on the cultural map this weekend, as our friends from Poetry Scores close out the Hoffman Lachance run of "Go South," while giving you a chance to pick up the CD and plenty of other Hoobellatoo/Poetry Scores/Skuntry products. If you missed the opening last weekend (ahem), here's your chance to catch up.

Some details:

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Poetry Scores Holiday Store
During 'Go South for Animal Index' finale and teardown
4-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17
Hoffman La Chance Contemporary
3100 Sutton Blvd. in Maplewood

Folks have from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 14-17, to take a last look at the Poetry Scores art invitational 'Go South for Animal Index' at Hoffman La Chance Contemporary, 3100 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood (just south of Manchester). Come see work from more than 30 artists responding to Stefene Russell’s poem about the atomic bomb. Bid on one of the few remaining unsold pieces, if you wish.

Just before closing on Saturday (and continuing through teardown), Poetry Scores will display and attempt to sell its rare and sumptuous wares – including the brand-spanking-new poetry score to 'Go South,' bundled up with two essays, the annotated poem, and an art print.

Go South for Animal Index: Release Next Weekend

As this note concerns one of our writer/editors and as I doubt she's going to plug an event featuring her own work, it's up to me to note that Stefene Russell's long-form poem, "Go South for Animal Index," will be released on the popular musical compact disc format next weekend. The November 9th gig will highlight the new disc, compliments of Poetry Scores, along with an invitational art auction. Details are as follows:

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GO SOUTH FOR ANIMAL INDEX
Art opening, silent auction and multimedia release party
Produced by Poetry Scores
At Hoffman LaChance Contemporary
3100 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood (just south of Manchester)
7 p.m. Friday, November 9

On Friday, November 9 at 7 p.m., the local arts group Poetry Scores will host "Go South for Animal Index," an art opening, silent auction and multimedia release party. The event will be held at Hoffman LaChance Contemporary, located at 3100 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood.

"Go South for Animal Index" is a poem about the atomic bomb by Stefene Russell, a poet from Salt Lake City who grew up downwind of the Nevada nuclear test site and has since transplanted to St. Louis. Poetry Scores has set her poem to music, mostly as rock songs by Three Fried Men. A CD of the score will be released at the November 9 event, published with the annotated text of "Go South" and essays by the poet and by the musical co-producer, Chris King.

A number of local artists have been invited to make new, original art that responds to the poem in a show curated by Jenna Bauer and Robert Goetz. This work will be available on silent auction at the November 9 release party. Confirmed contributing artists are:

Jon Counoyer - Greg Edmondson - Jenna Bauer - Lyndsey Scott - Jason Triefenbach - Melanie Persch - Sue Hartman - Stan Chisholm - Robert Goetz - Brett Williams - Andy Tolch - Kim Humphries - Marie Oberkirsch - Jaime Gartelos - Tim McAvin - Gena Bradey - Carmelita Nunez - Chris Dingwell - Mike Behle - Sandra Marchewa - Robert Van Dillen - Daniel Shown - Bryan Reckamp
- Eric Woods - Diana Lucas - Braden Persch - Dallas Woodson - Melina Rodrigo - Alicia LaChance - William LaChance - Michael Hoffman

Admission to the event is free. The Poetry Scores multimedia release of "Go South for Animal Index" (signed, limited first edition of 200) will be on sale for $15. The art will be on sale by silent auction. Proceeds from the silent auction will be divided evenly between artist, gallery and Poetry Scores.

Poetry Scores is an arts group devoted to the translation of poetry into other media. This year it incorporated with the help of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, which currently is assisting with its tax-exempt status.

So, join us for "Go South for Animal Index," an art opening, silent auction and multimedia release party hosted by local arts group Poetry Scores at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 9 at Hoffman LaChance Contemporary, located at 3100 Sutton Boulevard in Maplewood. It will be a bomb!

This event is sponsored by KDHX Community media, and Poetry Scores is supported by Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts.

For more information or directions, visit www.hoffmanlachancefineart.com. For more information on Poetry Scores, contact Chris King at 314-265-1435 or brodog@hotmail.com.

More BAG at Rosebud

Caught Josh Weinstein - of KDHX's "All Soul, No Borders" - at the station recently and he mentioend that the Black Artist Group was offering up a handful of additional performances this fall. One was last night, so this a bit late in promoting that show. But several more are slated for coming Sunday evenings. Thanks to Josh, here's the remaining schedule:

BAG presents 2007 Fall Season

Sunday, Oct. 21
Friday, Nov. 2
Friday, Nov. 16
Sunday, Dec. 9

All shows 7-9PM

At the Rosebud Cafe
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
2658 Delmar Blvd
St. Louis

Admission is Free

Join our email list to receive information on each event by writing:
bag_blackartistgroup@yahoo.com

Mary Jo Bang: Reading Today

The first time I heard Mary Jo Bang read was at the first Art Outside, at Aaron Belz's excellent 10/10 (ten poets, ten minutes) event inside the Bottleworks. It's rare to find a quiet poet who can read as compellingly as the noisy poets; the noisy poets will grab you attention with volume, and hopefully with the volume there's something redeeming in the work itself. She read a piece called "The Eye Like a Strange Balloon," based, I think, on a Guy Maddin film of a similar name. She was not noisy, but brilliantly focused, and every word she read had a gravity to it (unlike, ironically, balloons of any sort, even strange ones). Her work actually reminds me a lot of Maddin's films - built in some silvery noir otherworld, full of images that are exotic but somehow familar, pulled up straight from the unconscious.

She's just come out with a new book, Elegy, which received raves from uber-poet Marjorie Perloff:

“The loss of a child—especially an only child who is in the prime of life—is one of the most painful experiences anyone can have and one, common sense tells us, almost impossible to render in an age of sensory overload. But Mary Jo Bang’s Elegy is the grand exception. In its insistence on “the inexhaustible / Need to be accurate,” Elegy is wholly absorbing. Avoiding all self-pity, false comfort, sentimentality or finger pointing, Bang’s terse, oblique poems anatomize grief, guilt, and mourning in pitiless detail. Do things ‘improve’ by the end of the year whose progress this heartbreaking book charts? Not really, but the reader is transformed. I know of no contemporary elegy that has its power.”

Bang is reading from her new book today (October 6) at 3 p.m., at the Big Read in Clayton at the Boeing Author Tent (on Central Avenue between Carondolet and Forsyth). Also reading today will be Carl Dennis and Sally Van Doren, with a book signing and a panel following the readings. In music, this is what you'd call a "power trio;" there's probably a more dignified poetic-like term for three accomoplished, talented poets reading together, though unfortunately my vocabulary is stunted in this regard, so I'll just have to say, "don't miss this! It's a trio of talented and accomplished poets, reading together."

Next Week: Observable @ Bottleworks

I ordinarily defer to our poetry expert, Stefene, to comment on local events of a poetic nature, but in the interests of getting some information out on the next Observable Reading, I'll go ahead and post up the particulars. Compliments of series curator Aaron Belz:

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Thursday, October 4, 8:00 PM - FREE
at the Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, MO

Daniel Borzutsky is the author of Arbitrary Tales (Triple Press, 2005) and The Ecstasy of Capitulation (BlazeVOX, 2007). Of the latter, Gabriel Gudding writes: "Borzutzky is exactly the kind of weirdo genius who can restructure a cultural imaginary. Comic, essayistic, spare, moral, pointed, polyglossic and low, this book teaches us that we do not live refractory lives..."

Peter Davis' book of poems is Hitler's Mustache (Barnwood, 2006). He edited Poet's Bookshelf: Contemporary Poets on Books that Shaped Their Art. His poems have appeared in journals like Unpleasant Event Schedule, Kulture Vulture, Court Green, Mipoesias, McSweeney's, and La Petite Zine. He lives with his wife, son, and daughter in Muncie, Indiana and teaches at Ball State University.

St. Louis poet Richard Newman is the author Borrowed Towns (Word Press, 2005). His poems have appeared in Best American Poetry 2006, Crab Orchard Review, The Sun, Tar River Poetry, and 32 Poems. A poem of his which recently appeared in New Letters won this year's New Letters Readers Choice Award. For thirteen years he has served as Editor of River Styx and Director of the River Styx at Duff's Reading Series.

For more information, visit http://observable. org.

BAG on Sunday

In a very theoretical sense, I've been a fan of the Black Artists Group for the past few years, having read Benjamin Looker's great book on the subject, having picked up a few pieces of vintage vinyl and having been attuned to some recent group readings, usually thanks to the promptings of Brett Underwood. Problem on the last count is that while I've been aware of them, I've not attended a reading/performance of the resurrected group, a sad trend I hope to change this Sunday night, when BAG's hosting a tribute to John Coltrane in the rehabbed addition to the Scott Joplin House, the Rosebud Cafe.

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BAG Celebrates John Coltrane

K. Curtis Lyle, Shirley LeFlore, Michael Castro, Mike Nelson, Gary Sykes and Zimbabwe Nkenya will celebrate John Coltrane's birthday on Sunday, September 23rd from 7 – 9 PM at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site and you are invited!

By any measure, John Coltrane (1926 – 1967) was one of the most important
and influential musicians in the history of jazz. As Dom Cerulli wrote in his liner notes on Africa/Brass (Impulse! A-6) "Coltrane plays tenor saxophone quite unlike anyone in all of jazz…" Cerulli goes on to characterize Coltrane's work as "restless, probing, extracting, absorbing and moving on…"

Apt words to describe the vibrant creative work of the artists gathering to celebrate Coltrane's life. Lyle, LeFlore, Castro, Nelson, Sykes and Nkenya
represent some of the most dynamic creative artists currently active in the
St. Louis literary and music communities. With the backdrop of new work created for this event by visual artist Seitu, their work will probe, extract, absorb and move on, honoring Coltrane's life and work.

John William Coltrane was born in North Carolina and schooled in Philadelphia . He worked with various jazz and rhythm & Blues bands before establishing himself with St. Louis trumpeter Miles Davis's quintet in 1955. It was during this tenure with Davis that his distinctive tone and adventurous approach to harmony blossomed. A stint with pianist and composer Thelonious Monk two years later further honed his playing and improvisational skills. After briefly rejoining Davis 's group he went out on his own in 1960. The John Coltrane Quartet quickly became one of the most talked-about bands in jazz. Coltrane's legacy – his music – is one of the most profound and valuable treasures in the history of jazz.

K. Curtis Lyle is a visionary poet and performance artist whose emotionally
and intellectually charged work has explored subjects as diverse at "Nut
Check" (taking its departure from an obscene anecdote by Richard Pryor) to
his seeking, probing, singingly poetic explorations of history, culture and meaning. Mike Nelson, who has performed with the St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra, China National Orchestra, Aska Kanedo and tours throughout
the country as a performer and lecturer is an outstanding trumpet player,
along with his renowned work on conch shells and sacred Bata drums. Shirley LeFlore, poet and performing artist extraordinaire, a member of the original
BAG, forged the groundwork and has served as the inspiration for countless
poets weaving their words with and into true creative jazz. Michael Castro
has traveled widely and is known both locally and internationally for his long tenure as a St. Louis-based performance artist and published poet. Gary Sykes was named St. Louis ' best drummer by the Riverfront Times and has played with a who's who of jazz musicians including Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, James Moody, Eddie Harris, Pharoah Sanders, Lester Bowie and John Hicks. Zimbabwe Nkenya, curator of this tribute as well as performer, has returned to the St. Louis area after more than 20 years as a successful performing and recording artist in New York and the Southwest. On upright bass and mbira he has worked with many internationally renowned musicians and his work reflects the broad scope of deep roots and influences in jazz and African music.

This free event opens the fall BAG series of events in the Rosebud Café,
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2658 Delmar Blvd in St. Louis. For
more information call 340-5790 or email BAG at:
bag-blackartistgroup@yahoo.com.

BAG in Midtown, Friday

The inimitable Brett Underwood passes along word (via Michael Castro) of an interesting event taking place on Friday night. The event, sponsored and featuring the Black Artists Group, is taking place in the Rosebud Cafe, the newly-reconstructed complement to the Scott Joplin House. Among the readers is K. Curtis Lyle, who has graced the pages of a couple 52nd City's over the past year.

As I will probably not be able to attend, if someone does, please pass along a quick word of recap or review. Thanks.

-----------------------------------------------

BAG Presents: Diverse Creative Voices on the St. Louis Scene

On Friday, August 10th from 7 - 9 PM BAG presents an evening of diverse creative voices featuring musician Zimbabwe Nkenya on mbira and poets Marsha Cann, Michael Castro and Blue-Mashibini in the historic Rosebud Café at Scott Joplin House 2658 Delmar Blvd.). Native Marsha Cann is well-known as an actress, poet, storyteller and educator. Her work has been published in Wordwalkers, Frontlines and the St. Louis Muse. Cann has often been seen on stage in productions with the Black Rep and her association with that group dates back to the origins of the company when she was a theater major at Washington University.

Michael Castro has ten books of poetry, essays, and translations to his credit, most recently Human Rites: Selected Poems (2002) and A Transparent Lion: Selected Poetry of Attila Jozsef (translated from the Hungarian with Gabor G. Gyukics, 2006). Castro is well known as a performance poet throughout the United States and internationally where he has performed in London, Edinburgh, Toronto, Montreal, New Delhi, and Budapest.

Blue-Mashibini is a poetry team (JoyCe Blue & Deborah Mashibini) who first read together at Shirley LeFlore's Creative Arts & Expression Lab (CAEL) in 1982. After a 20-plus year hiatus they have recently re-united and will be reading from their work in progress, Some Things Need to be Said. Blue-Mashibini's poetic narratives weave common stories that attempt to bridge the divides that continue to separate people based on race and misperceptions of one another.

Zimbabwe Nkenya has presented his work in some of the finest performing arts centers in the country including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, and the Knitting Factory. He has performed with Julius Hemphill, Rob Brown, William Parker, Anthony Braxton, Frank Morgan, Floyd LeFlore, Mary Redhouse and countless poets including Shirley LeFlore, Quincy Troupe, Mike '360' Ipiotis, Joy Harjo and Arthur Ray Brown. Currently Zimbabwe is working with Mike Nelson bringing two sacred African instruments, the Bata Drums and the Mbira, together.

The African Mbira, often referred to as a 'thumb piano,' is in fact a multi-octave instrument requiring more than thumbs to achieve its full potential. Nkenya has incorporated the sacred sounds of the Mbira into original jazz-based music for more than 30 years. "In his hands, the Mbira becomes a vibrant channel for spirited, authentic jazz improvisations... using ancient traditions to forge music for today."

This free event is presented by BAG, a collective of artists dedicated to presenting creative work in the tradition of the original BAG (Black Artists Group). Friday's performance is part of an ongoing series that has included internationally known artists Eugene B. Redmond, K. Curtis Lyle, Jerome "Scrooge" Harris, Shirley LeFlore, Oliver Lake and Mike Nelson.

For more information contact Scott Joplin House at 314-340-5790 or email BAG: bag_blackartistsgroup@yahoo.com

Time for Trivia with Poetry Scores

One of our own, Stefene Russell, is involved in the following note, so I'm betting that she's not going to toot the horn on this event. But Poetry Scores is hosting a trivia event in a couple weekends, with proceeds slated to help produce the latest CD and film from that nascent organization. Recently, the group offered up the CD and feature "Blind Cat Black"; next up will be Russell's "Go South for Animal Index" for similar treatment.

And does it seem that the trivia craze has slowed a touch? If so, get back in the game with this one:

----------------

Sunday, August 12, 2-5 p.m.

Poetry Scores will host a trivia contest fundraiser upstairs at The Schlafly Tap Room, 21st and Locust Downtown. Original questions are being written now by the quirky gang at Poetry Scores on topics such as sex, beer, baseball and St. Louis.

Tickets for the trivia event are $10 per person, with tables of 10 preferred. You can contact any Poetry Scores board member (Robert Goetz, Jenna Bauer, Stefene Russell, K. Curtis Lyle, Charlois Lumpkin, Rookery T. and King) for tickets. King is at brodog@hotmail.com or 265-1435 and is standing by to take your order now.

Poetry Scores, formerly Hoobellatoo, is an arts group based in St. Louis dedicated to the translation of poetry into other media. The money will be used to fund the group’s fall release of Go South for Animal Index, an eclectic CD in the genre of “poetry score” – a long poem scored as one scores a film. Go South for Animal Index, scored to a poem by St. Louis poet Stefene Russell, will be released Friday, November 9 at Hoffman LaChance Contemporary (3100 Sutton in Maplewood), in conjunction with an Art Invitational of pieces that respond to the poem.

Poetry Scores’ previous releases, Crossing America and Blind Cat Black, have been featured on NPR, BBC Radio 3 and in many St. Louis media. The score to Blind Cat Black is now the subject of an independent feature film produced by Poetry Scores, starring Toyy Davis, Jason Wallace Triefenbach and Don Erickson which was recently featured as part of the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. http://www.myspace.com/blindcatblack

Slamming at RAC

Oh, it's been a while now! My Loop Rat days are almost 20 years past. Time has seperated me from all those afternoons spent hanging out at Bob Putnam's 20th Century Books, the Varsity Theatre and smaller versions of Cicero's, Streetside and Vintage Vinyl. A big part of the scene in the dawn of the '90s was the Wabash Triangle Cafe, a funky joint located on the geographical footprint that's now the Pageant. In a time when the Loop absolutely died at the intersection of Delmar and Skinker, the Wabash was the first business to test the eastern side of the Loop.

Run by Calvin Case - who'd often be the only worker on duty, bartending, flipping burgers and cracking wise simultaneously - this was one seriously odd spot, with a mix of entertainment that included sad-sack songwriters, energetic punks like the young Fragile Porcelain Mice and more slam-style poets than you could count.

We're alerted to an event this week that celebrates that group, along with their slamming followers. Compliments of David Dandridge:

-----------

What: Up from the Ashes: Poets of the Wabash Triangle Cafe
When: Saturday, June 16th, 2007 Doors: 7:30pm Show: 8pm
Where: The Regional Arts Commission 6128 Delmar (East of the Loop )
Cost: Suggested Donation $5.00. No one will be turned away, so bring your broke ass on down.

See some of the best of the old school and new school St. Louis performance poets from the Wabash Triangle Cafe all the way to the 2007 St. Louis Slam Team: Hari Sky Campbell, Margeau Steinau, Paul Stewart, Maria Guadalupe Massey, Linda Lawson Mixon, John Newmark and more. Hosted by David Wraith and filmed for the upcoming documentary "The Roof is on Fire."

Tommorow Night: Last Observable Reading!

I know that cribbing too much from press releases is bad form, but Chris King's press releases transcend the form. He sent a particularly ticklish one about tomorrow night's Observable Reading (the last this season kids! This is your last chance to go this season!) which I'll quote from liberally:

"In honor of the poet's appearance this Thursday, April 5 in the estimable Observable Readings series at The Schlafly Bottleworks, and the first week of a new baseball season, The Skuntry Museum, Library, Beer Cellar & Prop Shop has unveiled a baseball signed by the St. Louis poet David Clewell and also inked with his portrait of a space job in flight.

Clewell, a master narrative and comic poet, is a self-described "nut job" who makes extraterrestrial life and UFO's a major, minor theme of his work, among other inscrutable things, though he also writes beautifully about his wife, his son and other things that non-nut jobs write about.

"I suckered Clewell into signing the baseball and drawing it, like I have been suckering him into things for precisely twenty years," said Chris King, curator of the Skuntry Museum. "I was something of a child poetry impressario, and even as a lonely runt at Wash. U. in the '80s, I was talking Clewell out of his hermitage to read with Eugene B. Redmond at Cicero's as small groups from the Lincoln High Jazz Band (RIP) played hard bop. Then as now, Clewell was an adorable grouch and a confirmed hermit."

The curator said the poet signed the baseball for him over cheeseburgers at
Hugo's, a favorite burger haunt for Clewell near his long-standing gig at
Webster University.

"I remember the burger buns were stale," King said, "and I remember an
unforgettable phrase Clewell improvised when talking about how his teenaged
son plays both his parents against each other: 'He's an equal-opportunity
opportunist.'"

Clewell will read with a poet unknown to the museum, Joy Katz, this Thursday
at 8 p.m. The Schlafly Bottleworks are on Southwest Avenue in Maplewood. No
charge for admission.

"Thursdays are family nights for me, so I'll miss it like I miss everything
else," King said, "but at least I can write a sarcastic praise release in
honor of this important event."

The Bird Hoverer

I am pleased as punch to announce that Aaron Belz's new book, The Bird Hoverer, is officially OUT and available through the BlazeVox books site (and if you wait a fortnight, at Left Bank books). I saw Aaron last weekend at the Observable St. Pat's reading at the Royale, where he presented me with my own shiny (it is shiny!) copy of the book, whose cover bears an intensely colorful and beautiful painting by Conrad Bakker. Baker painted a painting of a book cover, if that makes sense - that is, the title and Aaron's name are painted, rather than typeset in a True Type font. The book is broken into two sections, "Among Birds" and "The Names of the Lost." If you've ever heard Aaron read "2005 is a Good Year for Alec Baldwin," and thought, "damn, I wish I had a copy of that poem," now you can have a copy of that poem. And many, many others of the same caliber.

Tommorow Night's Observable Reading: "one of the best ever. No kidding."

Those words - that this will be one of the best Observable Readings ever - come from the curator himself, Mr. Aaron Belz, who's just on the threshold of becoming DOCTOR Belz (doctor of poetry, that is). So listen up, kids! This trio consists of one Bostonian and two professors from Central Missouri State in Warrensburg (where I still have kin. And I have to say, Warrensburg seems like a tough place to be a poet, though I've never spent more than a weekend there).

Rather than list their not-unconsiderable accomplishments, I'll cut and paste some snips from poems that Aaron forwarded my way, which may say more than a list of publication credits ever could ... though if you'd like to see that impressive information it is, as always, at Observable.org. In addition to the poetry, there will be live music by Tony and Patty Marshall.

Jon Woodward:
A steady hail of ink-columns on mind's face-
paper: bilaterally symmetrical & small, double
-taken (from across the room) as
hiding nothing?

Wayne Miller:
What I'll allow myself to beleive is admittedly
not much--the faint mirror of a blank wall,
the heart ringing with another's words
like the sympathetic vibration of a bell--.

John Gallaher:
The children are running across the field, each
carrying something.
Each on his or her spindly legs.
The field's a good field.

THE PERTINENT DETAILS:
March 8, 2007
Observable Readings
Schalfly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest, in lovely Maplewood
8 PM - FREE

Monday: Poetry @ Duff's

Since I know my colleague in this joint, Stefene Russell, is probably too humble to note her involvement in a Monday event, I'll go ahead and do so. Via Ann Haubrich, here're some thoughts on Monday's event at Duff's, compliments of Poetry Scroes, heretofore known as Hoobellatoo:

Wanted to let you know about a fine poetry reading this coming Monday evening, Feb. 26, 7:30 pm at Duff’s in the Central West End . The event is free and produced by a new group in town, Poetry Scores, which is dedicated to the translation of poetry into other media.

The evening will begin with a reading by poet Stefene Russell, who also helps Janie and me host Literature for the Halibut on KDHX. Stefene is a lovely and funny poet.

The featured poet of the evening is K. Curtis Lyle, who will read from his hot-off-the-press book The Epileptic Camel Driver Speaks to a Refugee Death: Elegy for Fakin’ Floyd Raintree. The book is just as nice to look at and hold as to read because it is the work of the esteemed Firecracker Press, right here in St. Louis .

Curtis Lyle is an amazing poet –and his poetry is best experienced from a live reading. The latest issue of the St. Louis American says that Curtis’ poetry “is full of signs, portents, omens…..though Curtis writes narrative poetry, with characters and storylines, a plot description of his poems does them no justice.” It’s really worth checkin’ out, ‘specially on a rainy Monday night. What else you got to do?

Another STL Book: "St. Louis"

Simply titled, "St. Louis" jumped off of a bookshelf at Webster University's Emerson Library recently. Though I didn't pick it up at first, I rounded back, remembering my foolish notion of reading every title of local interest. (Well, almost every title.) This one, a 1977 product of the New Horizons imprint of the Franklin Watts press, was part of a series of urban selections, which included looks at historical Pittsburgh, Detroit and other cities.

Edited by Selwyn Troen and Glen Holt, the book's a compilation of readings from throughout St. Louis' history, including both original, source texts and selections from looks-back at local lore. Organized chronologically, the book begins in the late 1700s - with the expected blend of Spanish, French and Indian influences - and ends in the 1970s - highlighted by conversations about Pruitt-Igoe and the meaning of the Gateway Arch.

In a sense, then, the book's a precursor, of sorts, to the excellent, near-comprehensive "Seeking St. Louis" of a couple years back. In terms of heft, "St. Louis" is a mere fraction of that work and some of the pieces have essentially been repeated since, but this slim, 1977 piece isn't a bad primer, at all. I'll be keeping a look out for it at Dunaway Books in the future.

Ten Jens!

For those of you who walked away as newly-minted poetry fans after the "Rockin' Robins" reading at Schlafly Bottleworks last month, prick up your ears...

Yes, folks, a week from tonight (February 1), ten poets named Jen will fly in from points all over the map and head to Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest) to read (at 8 p.m.) for Aaron Belz's Observable Poetry series (always free and open to the public). Then they'll commence to poeticizing in all their fierce Jennifer-esque glory. How Aaron managed this hat trick ... well, it's a testament to Mr. Belz's charisma and fine work ethic. I've been really pleased with all the readings this year - never a dull moment, which is not something you can often say about a poetry-reading series - and this will be sort of the apex of the season. Some of the Jens are local, including Jen Gaby (from our own Contemporary Museum) and Jen MacKenzie, who teaches at UMSL. Also, Jen Woods, sister of Eric Woods (of Firecracker Press, who prints our fine mag covers) will be coming in from Louisville.

This is going to be a long list, but I feel I need to post their details here to give you an idea of the weight of what Aaron has pulled together here, not to mention the quality of the poetry that'll be read next week:

Jen Hofer's recent publications include Sin puertas visibles: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by Mexican Women (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003) and slide rule (subpress, 2002). Her work can be found in recent issues of 1913, Bomb, Bombay Gin and Primary Writing.

Jen Bervin is the author of A Non-Breaking Space (uglyducklingpresse.org), Nets (Ugly Duckling Presse 2004) and Under What Is Not Under (Potes & Poets 2001),. Bervin is an editor of the literary journal, jubilat, and teaches at Pratt Institute and New York University.

Jen Chapis has published poems with Barrow Street, Hayden's Ferry Review, Hotel Amerika, The Iowa Review, McSweeney's, Quarterly West, and Best New Poets, and is an Editor with Nightboat Books (nightboat.org).

Jen Coleman is a poet in Brooklyn, NY and co-editor of PomPom magazine (pompompress.com). She's also co-author of the chapbook Communal Bebop Canto with CE Putnam and Allison Cobb.

Jen MacKenzie teaches literature and writing at UM St. Louis. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, among them The Literary Review, Feminist Studies, The Christian Science Monitor, Unitarian-Universalist Poets, and, locally, River Styx, Delmar, and Sou'wester.

Jen Robinson is the author of For Conifer Fanatics (Soft Skull, 1996) and the chapbooks What Solitary Ocean and Late Night Clanging (with artist Elizabeth Zechel). She serves as puzzle editor for Lungfull! magazine and makes her home in Queens, New York.

Jen Woods is a poet and short fiction writer from Louisville, Kentucky. She serves as an editorial and marketing assistant for Sarabande Books, an independent literary press (sarabandebooks.org).

Jen Gaby studied Creative Writing at University of Indiana and is a fierce advocate for the literary arts in St. Louis. During daylight hours, she serves as the public relations manager for the Contemporary Art Museum.

Jen Scappettone's Abluvion Almanac will be out imminently from Outside Voices. Poems, translations from Italian, and prose have appeared lately in Bay Poetics, P-Queue, The Canary, The Brooklyn Rail, Chicago Review, and other places. She lives in Chicago.

Jen Lyons is from Kansas City and is currently attending the Washington University MFA program; she has had a poem published in Cimarron Review.

Jen Mueller's new collection, Bonneville, comes out this spring from Elixir Books. She teaches poetry and fiction writing at McKendree College.

Castro in Action this Week

Thanks to Brett Underwood for tipping us to this event, held on, wow, this Thursday. (Is it already that late in the month? Whoa.)

---

The St. Louis Writers Guild presents a reading Thursday, January 18th at 7pm, at the Barnes & Noble Ladue Crossing Store featuring poet and translator Michael Castro and New Mexico poet John Brandi. The store is located at Ladue & Highway 170 (taking the Ladue exit you can go straight across the street into the Ladue Crossing Shopping Plaza where the store is located).

MICHAEL CASTRO is well known locally as the founder of the River Styx Literary
organization and the host of the long-lived Poetry Beat radio program. He is
the author of ten books of poetry and translations. He will be reading from his new book of translations, A TRANSPARENT LION: SELECTED POETRY OF ATTILA
JOZSEF. Attila Jozsef (1905-1937) is Hungary's greatest twentieth century poet.

JOHN BRANDI's dozens of publications include poetry, travel vignettes, essays, modern American haiku, translations of contemporary Mexican poetry. He has given innumerable readings in the U.S., France, England, Switzerland, India, and Mexico. Painter and collage master as well as a poet, he has exhibited in galleries in cities in the United States and is in several major collections. His books include: HEARTBEAT GEOGRAPHY: SELECTED & UNCOLLECTED POEMS
1966-1994, A QUESTION OF JOURNEY; VISITS TO THE CITY OF LIGHT, WEEDING THE COSMOS, and RELFECTIONS IN A LIZARD'S EYE. He is also the editor of THE UNSWEPT PATH, a collection of haiku by modern American writers.

The Summoning of Robins

Ordinarily, I'd not post twice here in a day, but this afternoon, while on a long walk through Tower Grove Park, I noticed something quite eye-opening. On a goodly patch of grass, between SCOSAG's brick gatehouse and the little baseball field at Morganford and Arsenal, about 150 robins were greedily worm-harvesting. And I might be underreprsenting the amount of them there. Every single two-winger was a robin, as well. What an odd sight.

I take this as some sort of totemic statement by the birds, fast on the heels of the "Rockin' Robins" reading at the Schlafly Bottlewoks, compliments of Observable Books. I can only, naturally assume a connection. That, there must be.

Rockin' Robins

Here I am with my regular first-week-of-the-month poetry PSA to announce that this Thursday, for the next installment of the Observable Poetry Series, there will be Robins traveling in from all corners of the country and converging on Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest, in Maplewood). This month's reading is titled, appropriately, "Rockin' Robins," with some warm-up tunes provided by Farm Team (who you may've caught at the Art Market in December).

As usual, I defer to Mr. Aaron Belz, who always writes thorough, descriptive poet bios:

"Robin Behn's Horizon Note won the Brittingham Prize from the University of Wisconsin Press in 2001. She has authored two other books of poetry: Paper Bird (Texas Tech, 1988) and The Red Hour (HarperCollins, 1993). She directs the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at the University of Alabama.

Robyn Schiff's first collection of poems, Worth, was published in 2002 and appeared on Fence magazine's list of Most Notable Books for that year. Originally from New Jersey, Schiff now lives in Chicago, where she is a
visiting professor in the English department at Northwestern University.

Robin Beth Schaer works at the Academy of American Poets and has taught writing at Columbia University and Cooper Union. Her poems have been
nominated for a Pushcart Prize and have appeared in Rattapallax, Small Spiral Notebook, Denver Quarterly, and are forthcoming in Spinning Jenny."

And now for my not-so-schooled, subjective take. I saw Robin Schiff read in the '04 series, with her partner, Nick Twemlow , and St. Louis' own Julie Dill (yes, I am a fan!) I bought Schiff's book (Worth), and was downright charmed by it. She writes about Finches and dresses, specifically old fashion houses. At the time, I was working for SKIF, and so I had a double appreciation for poems about fashion houses (and somehow, birds). Her poems are very vivid and clever. I don't know the other two Robins, but I know Rattapallax -- they put out a great issue that was dedicated purely to Brazilian poetry, which came with a CD of the poets reading their work. I don't know a lick of Spanish, but it was to the editors' credit that the poetry was very listenable anyway; that old idea of poetry being made up of pleasing sounds as well as sense. I gleaned no sense from it, but the music rang out bright & clear. So anyone who's published there, I am pretty sure I'll like her poetry. And Farm Team rocks. The other piece of info you need: the show starts at 8 p.m., and Schlafly's new No. 15 is a peculiar, spicy beer which will be an exceptionally great pairing with the poetry.

What a Book!

While at the Webster University library last week, I happened across a copy of Dick Gregory's autobiography "nigger" (1964, E.P. Dutton) in the stacks. It was a book that I wanted to pick up for some time, if only because of Gregory's occasional appearances in the old Gaslight Square district. What I found, though, was a fascinating account of life in St. Louis during the late-'30s through the mid-'50s, at which point Gregory took a track scholarship to SIU-C.

The first third of the book contains the St. Louis-specific material, but Gregory's accounts of facing racism as a star college athlete, breaking into show business in a competitive Chicago market and then seguing into a lead role in the civil rights struggles of the South (and, true, the Midwest). The material was compelling enough that I had force myself to put it down, in order to not run through the 232-pages in one reading.

For those who might know Gregory only for his recent forays into writing diet books and taking on odd causes, this is a wonderful primer to the man's early days. And it's another "must have" for any comprehensive STL book collection. While I'm returning my copy to WU today, I'm planning a trip to Dunaway Books for this afternoon, as well, in hopes of adding this one to the personal bookshelf. From there, it'll be a much loaned-out work, I'm certain.

News from Observable

Two good bits of info from the South Side HQ of Observable Books.

First, the thrid and newest chapbook is out on the press, Cole Swenson's "Ghosts Are Hope." The attractive, little book (designed by Firecracker Press) is available at several local booksellers, specialty art fairs and sales and via the Observable site.

Secondly, the press release for the next Observable Reding has been readied, for an early January, themed reading. (Oh, how Observable loves those themed readings! As do we.) Following is the text:

January 4, 2007, 8 pm
Observable Readings Presents
Four poets named Robin in...
ROCKIN' ROBINS
At the Bottleworks in Maplewood
More info at http://observable.org/readings/

Robin Behn's Horizon Note won the Brittingham Prize from the University of Wisconsin Press in 2001. She has authored two other books of poetry: Paper Bird (Texas Tech, 1988) and The Red Hour (HarperCollins, 1993). She directs the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at the University of Alabama .

Robin Ekiss's work has appeared or is forthcoming in Poetry, The Kenyon Review, The Gettysburg Review, New England Review, Prairie Schooner, Gulf Coast , and elsewhere. Her first book manuscript was a finalist for the 2004 Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets .

Robyn Schiff's first collection of poems, Worth, was published in 2002 and appeared on Fence magazine's list of Most Notable Books for that year. Originally from New Jersey , Schiff now lives in Chicago , where she is a visiting professor in the English department at Northwestern University .

Robin Beth Schaer works at the Academy of American Poets and has taught writing at Columbia University and Cooper Union. Her poems have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and have appeared in Rattapallax, Small Spiral Notebook, Denver Quarterly, and are forthcoming in Spinning Jenny.

Observable Poetry Rings in Early This Week

I keep a mental sticky note for the first Thursdays of the month, which is, most of the time, when Aaron Belz's Observable (poetry) Readings occur. But, since this is the season to drink spiked eggnog, wear argyle legwarmers and purchase live mistletoe from Bayer's Nursery, things are busy over at the Bottleworks. If you go to Maplewood on Thursday to hear poetry, you will likely find instead a holiday beer-tasting or an Xmas party.

So listen up! The Observable Reading is tomorrow night at Bottleworks (7260 Southwest) at 8pm, and it is going to be very, very, very good. (Well - they're all very good, but I think even those who don't like poetry much will really dig this reading.) Reading will be Gabe Gudding and Piotr Gwiazda. From Aaron's blurb on the site:

Gabriel Gudding is the author of two books, A Defense of Poetry (Pitt Poetry Series, 2002) and Rhode Island Notebook (Dalkey Archive Press, 2008). His work appears in such anthologies as Great American Prose Poems: From Poe to the Present (Scribner, 2003). He teaches literature and creative writing at Illinois State University.

Piotr Gwiazda is the author of Gagarin Street (WWPH, 2005). His poems have appeared in Barrow Street, Columbia, Drunken Boat, Hotel Amerika, Rattle, The Southern Review, Swink, Washington Square, and elsewhere. He teaches modern and contemporary poetry at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

and finally, excerpts chosen by Mr. Belz to be printed on the promotional posters, to give you a wee taste of what to expect:

POEM IMPLORING THE RETURN OF MY BUTT

Dear Sir--I have lost my butt. It was a
frail butt not unlike a dog's. Now
that it is gone I am concerned
about its recovery as my legs are
grating against my abdomen.

Sincerely,
Gabriel Gudding

FOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

At times I can barely understand myself,
living in the place called Brainwash.

My visitors talk to me in headlines.
I reply with absurd proverbs.

-Piotr Gwiazda

Belz adds at the bottom of the flyer: "Dress casual. It's OK to be late. Lots of beer!"

Amen. The snow will be melted too. Come down!

Day of the Dead Beats

I'd suggest that the good folks at Observable Books share, at least, a passingly pleasant, nodding sort of friendship with us 52nd Citizens. I'd like to believe that by posting the cribbed notes below - found over at their website - that we'll only cement that goodwill. So here's what we suggest you do on Thursday:

Day of the Dead Beats is an annual St. Louis reading of dead Beat poets by local writers, actors, musicians and personalities. The event, started by Paul Thiel and others following the 1997 death of Allen Ginsberg, has continued every year since. Its title is, of course, a play on words incorporating the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos and is a sort of remembrance of those who are gone but not forgotten.

Brett Underwood has taken over coordination of the event since 2004 and is thrilled that the event is part of Observable Readings. Join the Dead Beats at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dayofthedeadbeats/.

King & Esser & Hall (& Russell & Lyle &...)

At his most recent Observable Reading, Aaron Belz joked that the preview in that day's Post-Dispatch was most surprising in that he didn't know the author. Maybe you had to be there, but the comment was both apt and a hoot. I know most of the folks involved in an event coming up this Thursday and hope that doesn't lend any less impatct to the idea posited here that this will be one of the most interesting readings of the season. See you there.

From C. King, participant, the details:

Reminder: Book party for me and Joe Esser at 8 p.m. next Thursday, Sept. 21
upstairs at the Tap Room. Star-studded supporting cast. Free to get in, $10
each if you want the books. Pictures of book covers and sample poems at:

http://www.skuntry.com/home.cfm

More complete event info follows. Hope to see you there! Chris

Book Party for Joe Esser and Chris King
Fellow Hoobellatoo poets to read with them Sept. 21 at Tap Room

On Thursday, September 21, two local* writers – Joe Esser and Chris
King – will celebrate the release of their new books of poetry at the St.
Louis Brewery & Tap Room, Schlafly’s downtown location at 2100 Locust St.
Reading along with them will be two other (better) local poets, K. Curtis Lyle
and Stefene Russell, with musical interludes by local acoustic bluesman Tom
Hall and a special performance by the Robert Goetz band.

Joe Esser’s book, titled “Pink Skunk Clownfish,” is a sheaf of pages
from the field guide of a vexed suburban nature poet. Chris King’s book,
titled “A Heart I Carved for a Girl I Knew,” is a collection of 31 poems about
23 years of intermittent, mostly self-inflicted heartache.

Local artist Andrea Day drew Joe’s cover art and Portland, Maine
tattooist Chris Dingwell (Sanctuary Tattoo) drew the art for Chris’ book. The
books are being published locally by Skuntry and printed locally (and
beautifully) by Firecracker Press. They will be on sale at the Tap Room for $10
each.

Stefene Russell will read poems from her CD “Radioactive Cat Radio,” and K. Curtis Lyle will read from his book “Electric Church.” Tom Hall plays National Steel Guitar. Robert Goetz will also lead a band that includes Adam Long (cello), Lindy Woracheck (saw) and Anne Tkach (drums) in playing a song he made from one of the poems in Chris’ book.

The reading at the Tap Room will kick off a miniature book tour that will
travel to Nashville the next night and Athens, Georgia the night after that,
with local musicians performing in those Southern towns.

The book party and reading begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, September 21, in
the upstairs Club Room, where Brett Underwood (producer of “The No Show” on KDHX) will be the bartender. It is a full-service bar with a specialty in diverse beers made on-premise. If you want to eat at the Tap Room that night, you’ll need to eat downstairs before the reading; no food upstairs, for logistical reasons. Brett gets very crabby about this.

Joe Esser, Chris King, Stefene Russell, K. Curtis Lyle, Andrea Day, Robert Goetz and Brett Underwood are all part of the arts collective Hoobellatoo.

For more information, email brodog@hoobellatoo.org or call (516) 314-7364.
The number at the Tap Room is (314) 241-BEER.

* NOTE * Joe Esser, technically, lives in employment and domestic exile in Wayne, New Jersey, though he studied at Washington University and spends as
much time in St. Louis as he possibly can.

Books Grow on my Tree

The Publishing Group, led by Wendy Surinsky and Nannette Vinson, received a Kick-Ass award last year. You may remember, if you attended the ceremony, Wendy and the group of kids who came to the event to accept their award. For those who were not there: the Publishing Group is a creative writing and photography after-school program in Hyde Park, created to give kids the opportunity to work with artists like K. Curtis Lyle, David Jackson and Mariah Richardson. Two years ago, they partnered with KDHX to produce an actual CD that features the kids' work -- "Books Grown on My Tree." Curtis (whose visionary work has graced the pages of 52nd City) and Mariah contributed poems, and David created the score. This Saturday, there will be a release party at Legacy Books and Cafe (5249 Delmar) at 6pm.

I filled in for Jane Ibur and Ann Haubrich tonight for "Literature for the Halibut," and in the studio were Wendy, Curtis, and David (by phone) along with six of the kids who participated, and their poems knocked me over. These kids are pretty straight-up and there was not a cliche to be found in their poems (which is more than I can say for most adult poets!) They were shy and putting on their cool act just a bit, and I did a fairly crappy job of keeping the chaos to a minimum, but by the end of the hour they were feeling comfortable enough to really talk and not just giggle and give a shout out to mom. And if you heard the show -- and their poems -- you know that there are some amazing stuff going on in their heads and hearts. If you can't make it out on Saturday, look for this amazing little project on the shelf at Left Bank Books.

Novelist Annette Gilson: Thursday @ Left Bank

Former Washington University MFA student Annette Gilson's back in town to promote her novel "New Light." She was a guest on The Wire tonight on KDHX, and you can hopefully stream that interview anytime after midnight this evening. She'll be reading from the book, set in St. Louis and rural Missouri, this Thursday night at 7 p.m., at Left Bank Books.

Here's a short synopsis from the Black Heron Press website:

Beth Martin feels she's wasted her life. She goes to St. Louis to visit her college roommate and get her bearings. But at a party she has what she can only call a vision, disconcerting but compelling. She meets a man who introduces her to a visionary community called New Light. She is befriended by some of its members, and also meets its charismatic leader, known as The Mother. Beth is intrigued by the community's openness to sexual and emotional experimentation, but is also disturbed by The Mother's enormous power over its members. In the end she must address questions of faith and loyalty, tolerance, jealousy and desire.

Poetry for the People

Received an invite to particpate in a poetry review group. Me? Thought the sender made a mistake, told him so and received this follow-up.

Blue Door is a Non-Profit group. Its purpose is centered on
helping America reclaim American Poetry. That is a very bold way of
stating it, to be sure. Said even bolder, it's about untangling a lie
which has been told to American readers.

It's a revolution . . .

This is an invitation to participate and a request for additional participants. Interested parties should contact Chris Ortiz at chris@chrisortiz.com

Of course, if there is a book you'd like to recommend please don't hesitate to let him know. Blue Door has only two criteria for materials to be reviewed: 1 - a book of poems by one poet and, 2 - a recently published book.

Unravelling lies and reviewing poetry. Who can't get behind that?

How to be a Gentle Citizen

Quick, now: do a good thing for poetry in St. Louis--and be recognized for it--by visitng Aaron Belz' Observable Books site and pledging one dollar (one measly dollar)! to help keep the series afloat next season. It's a quick, painless PayPal transaction (That's what Ebay uses) and when I say, "it's the cost of your morning coffee" I really mean that! Get thee to www.observable.org.

STL Writer's Workshop: New Site, Classes

Over the past few years, I've taken a couple of workshops through the St. Louis Writers Workshop. (I found both of them to be helpful, though I'll confess that as a somewhat-reticent-to-read-in-public guy, the otherwise female-only class makeups were, um, interesting.) The winning combination of a tune-up with two former instructors and my long and abiding love of tea, makes think that an upcoming, one-day workshop in a couple disciplines might be worth a look-see.

The STLWW website has been updated and given a fresh look. Click through to the site for the full info, but here's a short version of the single-day, The Right to Write workshop, coming up on July 23. And, yes, tea is involved.

Sunday, July 23, 2006
at Rainbow Village/Neve Shalom
1240 Dautel Ln.
Creve Coeur, Missouri 63146

Join us for a full day of writing, talking about writing, sharing writing, meeting writers, finding the writer within...

and

tea making for creativity
meditation as spiritual preparation for writing
music to release the deep story

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adults sign up for any two of these one-hour sessions:

TALKING POETRY with Rabbi James Stone Goodman

CHAPTER ONE AND BEYOND with Denise Pattiz Bogard

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT with Julie Earhart

THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH with Kathleen Finneran

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Teens (incoming 6th through 12th) sign up for:
(session runs two hours)

TEENS WHO WRITE with Seema Mukhi

Last Poetry Fix of the Season

Okay, roll the snare drums; this Thursday is the last Readings @ reading of the season, and it's the big guns, kids! T'aint every day that there's a Guggenheim Fellow drinking beer in the Schlafly Club room, after all.

The Club Room is inside the Tap Room (2100 Locust) and the reading is at 8pm. And like all poetry readings, it doesn't cost anything.

So here I quote Mr. Belz, fearless leader and founder of Readings @ The Tap Room, in his description of the poets:

Jane Mead and Carl Phillips

"Jane Mead is the author of The Lord and the General Din of the World, (Sarabande Books,1996) and House of Poured-Out Waters (University of Illinois, 2001). She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer's Award, a Completion Grant from the Lannan Foundation, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Carl Phillips is the author of seven books of poems, including The Rest of Love, finalist for the National Book Award, and The Tether, winner of the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. His new book, Riding Westward, comes out this spring.

For directions and other information, please visit http://belz.net/readings/"

For those who are not poetry geeks like me, take note that Mr. Phillips is one of our own; he teaches at Wash U. & hangs his hat in the Central West End.

Aaron Belz: Live & Digital

Ordinarily, I'd leave this type of post to my esteemed colleague, Stefene Russell. But I am in a posting frenzy - two, in one day! - and time is short.

You can find Aaron in person, tonight, at the Readings @ the Tap Room, 8 p.m. Ask him about his ankle.

You can find Aaron on the web, tonight, or any time, at: http://blog.myspace.com/orthodontist. Leave a comment, asking about his ankle.

Recently, one myspace user summed up an Aaron poem thusly: "This shit is crazy, and equally entertaining." Were I to ever have similar words written about my work, I'd consider this a life well-lived.

Real Poets on the Radio, Right Now!

If you aren't near a radio, you can stream Literature for the Halibut online to hear Joe Esser (author of The Book of Punch Lines, hailing from the Pine Barrens where the Jersey Devil once trotted along on cloven feets) and our own Kent Shaw, curator and mad genius behind the stellar Underwood Poetry Series.

Aaron Belz, also a mad genius and series curator, has invited both of these poets to take to the Club Room stage a week from today at 8pm. That's at the Tap Room on 2100 Locust. I can speak for Josey, knowing him pretty well, and say that he has spent many years knuckling under in order to master the very unfashionable art of poetric form (iambs, syllabics and diptychs) and his poetry is better for it. Kent's work I don't know, but only a clever poet would have the insight to book the poets he booked. Joining these two fellows is Patrick Herron, organizer of the Carrboro Poetry Fest & author of (love this title) The American Godwar Complex.

Rather than mooning on & trying to explain the poetic nature of these three, I suggest tuning in to listen to two of 'em to get a taste of what's coming next week. For those who have never been to the Readings @ The Tap Room Series: even if you think you don't like poetry, you will like this. I predict that you will become addicted to the series. And if I am wrong, I will buy you a beer.

Appropos of Nothing: Some Catfish with your Coffee

First, a PSA: Brett Underwood reports that the Howe/Grubbs reading has been cancelled. Which bums me out very much. I'll have my ear to the ground; if I hear news of a possible re-schedule, you will hear about it here.

Now; I've been meaning to post on Ernest Kirschten's Catfish & Crystal for weeks. How many weeks? Lots. I got a used copy for Chistmas, as a white elephant. As one astute reviewer pointed out, this book (first published in '59) has some, ah, outdated and embarassing aspects to it (Much like another fascinating regional title, Vance Randolph's Ozark Magic and Folklore). But Kirschten, who wrote editorials for the Post back in the first half of the 20th century, has a charming way of describing St. Louis in its various incarnations, from Chouteau to the groundbreaking for the Arch. I don't know if it's a St. Louis transplant thing, but I have a yearning that borders on obsessive to learn everything I can about what happened here before I landed in '01. Whether I'm peering through the chain link fence at Taille de Noyer in NoCo, or breezing past the Carondolet Coke plant, I feel like I am woefully ignorant about St. Louis history. Which is why I have been tearing through this little book, slowed only as I wince through the stone-age, un-PC passages.

For anyone who craves vivid accounts of South City corner bars in the '50s, Sportsman's Park or Gaslight Square, it's here (Gaslight was coming into its own as Kirschten wrote, and so his descriptions have a quality of immediacy that you don't get in retrospective accounts). It's also fascinating how aware he was of St. Louis' urban hemmoraghing, and why it was occuring. It was the same old city vs. county debate - and Kirschten had some grumpy words for the ranch-house/bridge party set. He quotes Lewis Mumford, reminds us that no American city is Paris or London, but that our younger cities have the virtue of being able to change and adapt, if we will allow them to; and though we are eating Chicago's dust (then and now!) it's no reason to despair or do nothing:

"By putting on smoked glasses, Hollywood-style, or a pair of the rose-tinted kind which horse players wear, it is easy to see that St. Louis and its future are either as black as a flea in a tar-bucket or as bright as a snow-covered alp in the morning sun. Both pictures do more for the emotions that the more or less gray, more or less mixed-up things as they are. Yet why do so many St. Louisians prefer the darker view? Tinsel and brightwork may be gloomy, but why a cult of the gloomy?"

Why, indeed. After some ruminations on Patience Worth, he gives us some words to live by:

"Since then nobody in St. Louis has been much good with a Ouija board. When it comes to predicting the future, people do little better than the emininet Dr. George Gallup. Judging by the past, there is not much truth in talk about a city dying on the vine. Right now things look good. Anway, who wants to live in the future? A fine big catfish with beer--or sauerbrauten, if you prefer--only can be enjoyed in the present. Nor is the meal spoiled because an old crystal chandelier or two have not been removed for something more modern. Crystal's nice."

The encouraging thing about reading Catfish is that (at least it seems to me) the "black as a flea in a tar-bucket" mindset is quickly fading away. And voila: look at all the tinsel and brightwork that's manifested itself, not just downtown but all over the place. The big problem back then was that Gaslight was confined to a few blocks, but now that the same sort of energy is busting out all over town--if you were down on Cherokee on the first Saturday of this month, you know what I mean--and it will be harder to smother it with graft, go-go bars and greed. Mr. Kirschten, we won't call you up with the Ouija board like Patience Worth, but if we did, we'd be happy to report that things look pretty good even to those wearing smoked glasses, Hollywood-style.

Thiefth

I rarely get excited about academic literary readings, because usually -- unless it's someone like William Volman or Wislawa Szymborska -- it's just an insufferable snooze. I was required for a class to go see Susan Howe read, and was not really pepped up over it, but was happily shocked when the reading was over; she looked like a conservative New England mom, but she read like David Byrne. She whispered, she yelled, she gestured. It was refreshing, especially because you didn't expect that out of this tiny, conservative-looking person.

On January 24th, she's going to be at SLU with musician David Grubbs to present "Theifth," a reading of two poems accompanied by Grubbs on computer and piano; one is on the marginalia in Melville's notebooks, and another is a sketch Thoreau, appropriately titled "Thorow." (Though she's no Burberry mom, as you can seee she is thorow-ly a New Englander). They have a CD out, which was named as one of Artforum's "Best of 2005," which you can pick up at Blue Chopsticks, a fun little stop-off even if you hate poetry but like academic music. It's at 6pm, at the University Theater at Xavier Hall. If an ice cream truck pulls up outside the doors to distribute popsicles and bombpops before the show, it will be an absolutely perfect night.

Aarons, Aarons Everywhere!

According to Wikipedia, "Five represents openness to new experiences as well as new ideas. Seeking freedom, it is often the adventurer. Five is about pushing life to its limits." 5 is also a Fibronacci number, a Pell Number, and a Markov number. Alchemists theorized that there were five elements: air, water, earth, fire and "aether." Five is heavy medicine. Big stuff. Look down at your fingers and toes; you dig?

So what happens when five Aarons converge for the 5th Readings @, on the 5th day of the month? You and your neighborhood alchemist can find out on Thursday, at the Tap Room.

THE LINEUP:

Aaron Belz, who has led this series through two and a half seasons, will be introducing all of the other Aarons.

Aaron Kiely is a New York Aaron. His book, The Best of My Love, was published by Ugly Duckling Presse in December. You can get a little audio sample of Aaron Kiely reading one of his poems here.

Aaron Kunin is a California Aaron. You can see a photo and read an interview with him at Here Comes Everybody. If you had a grandpa who like to build stuff, you might remember playing with folding rulers as a kid; and you remember how you could turn it into a big star (or a triangle, if you were less ambitious). Aaron Kunin's book is called Folding Ruler Star but it is not about folding rulers, but shame. Aaron Kunin also writes novels and literary criticism.

Aaron McCollough is a Michigan Aaron. Ann Arbor, to be specific. His first book, Welkin was published 2002; since then, he's written two more, Double Venus and Little Ease, which will be released this year by Ahsahta Press. Keep clicking to find out more about this book, and about this fourth Aaron!

Aaron Tieger is another New York Aaron. (Meaning New York state; Mr. Tieger lives in Ithaca, not Brooklyn, like Mr. Kiely). His newest chapbook, After Rilke, which should be out on the streets as I write this, was published by Anchorite Press. And if you don't know already, an anchorite is someone who's become so religious they must retreat into hermitude, because the world is just too much.

The Schlafly Tap Room is located on 2100 Locust; don't go into the dining room, but take the stairs to your right, where you'll find the Club Room on the next landing. The reading begins at 8 p.m., but a 7:30 arrival time is always good; that means you can buy yourself a beer and maybe talk to some of the poets before they take to the stage.

And for those of you who've always wanted to be a part of Team Readings @, Aaron (Belz, that is) has created this clever PDF poster, which you can download & print out on legal-sized paper. And tell me that this plea from Mr. Belz doesn't melt your heart: "PLEASE see beyond your hatred of poetry and come to this event. Get hammered with us."

Shaking Down Thunder in the Electric Church

The first time I saw Curtis Lyle read poetry, it was in the Contemporary, with David AL Jackson accompanying him on percussion. If you think it’s easy to read in a large, cement space like that (a little bit Bulgarian, a little bit cave-like) think again! I have read in that space. The sound bounces everywhere. You really have to wrestle it down, like Jacob with the angel, or you might as well be reciting your poems into the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner attachment in the privacy of your own home. Curtis was a downright mythological presence that night, and I say that without fear of being heavy-handed, because that’s just how it was. He was reading to launch the publication of his book, Electric Church, which is a power-packed little volume. As Will Alexander observes in the introduction: “His poems partake of both the telluric and the stellar—images erupt in the form of an interior code, rhythms are aboriginal, powers partake of ferocious lingual audacity. A philosophical threading blended with subversive humor.”

Yes, That's an Eye Chart

Aaron Belz has released the first title from his new poetry chapbook imprint, Observable Books. The first unusual thing about Aaron is that he is not afraid to write funny poems; the second unusual thing about him is that he is a poet who understands the importance of beautiful design. Those who have been put off of poetry in the past by looking at weenie covers graced with misty mountains, still lifes or perhaps a poignant black and white shot of the author will know what I am talking about.

Eric Thoelke of TOKY Branding + Design created the Observable logo (Which, delight! Is cleverly laid out as an eye chart, an image very familiar to 20/1000 eyesighted me). Eric Woods of Firecracker Press is designing and printing the covers. The debut title is Plausible Worlds, Aaron's own chapbook. "As vain as it might seem," he writes on the Observable website, "I had this in mind as sort of a test-run to see how the book would come out, and if it sucked, i could bury my own publication a lot easier than someone else's."

Aaron picked up the finished product last Wednesday, and brought it to Day of the Dead Beats. I was shocked at just how damn great it looked; Eric has outdone himself. I guess I never realized that a poetry book could have bell-bottoms and radial flowers on the cover. What a lovely epiphany: No wistful nature photos! No paintings of wispy maidens or floating flowers! Just this zing-pow, colorful, gleeful cover featuring a guy in bell-bottoms and a clock radio.

If you want to eyeball the cover, you can see it on the Observable website. And you can read some of Aaron's poems here. If you would like to acquire a little book for yourself, sez Mr. Belz: "The price is $8 for stapled, $12 for the 'special edition' of 50 hand-sewn and numbered copies. If you send me a check, I’ll put an autographed/inscribed copy in the mail right away!! 3734 Hartford Street, St. Louis, MO 63116."

Virginia is for Lovers, but St. Louis is for Poetry Lovers

So much poetry going on this week -- I don’t know how an honest poetry lover is going to get to everything. Wednesday has Day of the Dead Beats happening at Bill Christman’s studio. Thursday has Hoobellatoo’s ambitious Crossing America, an evening of music, poetry, and art at Mad Art Gallery. And Thursday is also a special "Chicago-Style Poetry/Pizza Night" version of Readings @ The Schlafly Tap Room. So a haiku in honor of all the poetry coming our way and then get the details.

ernest folks work hard
sharing their love of language
our city does smile

Quick Q/A with: Davy Rothbart, Found Magazine

Got a chance to talk to Davy Rothbart after his gig at Mad Art Gallery last night, about an hour after a large number of well-wishers and inscription-seekers had gotten a few minutes with him, as well. The Found Magazine, er, founder was pleasant and amiable, as always, despite a long day and the looming treak across town to crash on a patron's floor. (Hint: she happens to blog here.)

This Reading

The next installment of Readings @ The Schlafly Tap Room is this Thursday, October 6th. I attended this season's inaugural event and it was really fantastic. The poets were such a contrast. San Francisco’s Geraldine Kim, winner of Fence Books’ 2005 Modern Poets Series, read from Povel, her combination poem/novel that takes the concept of extemporaneous writing to a helium-like high. She seemed a bit inexperienced as a reader, but that is not a complaint. I found it totally refreshing. Stephanie Schlaifer is a poet based in St. Louis. Her work was more traditional—her imagery more polished, but accessible. When I heard the last line of Pictures of the House Under Construction, I had that little punch feeling that I get when I see a painting that hits me just right.

Thursday's line up features Marcus Cafagña and Suzanne Rhodenbaugh. You can get their bios on Aaron's site.

I encourage you to attend, even though I’ll be out of town. Aaron mixes a mean CD so the pre-reading entertainment is always an added bonus. All events are free and there is a full bar in the reading area.

What: Eight Events / Twenty Readers
When: First Thursdays of each month with next installment this Thursday, October 6th.
Time: 8-9pm
Location: The Schlafly Tap Room @ 2100 Locust Street (at 21st)
Admission: FREE
Info: http://belz.net/readings/ or aaron@belz.net

RFT Alum Highlighted in New Book

Was recently gifted (thank you very much!) a new book called "Notes from the Underground: The Most Outrageous Stories from the Alternative Press," a collection of stories from U.S. alt-weeklies. Of primary interest to St. Louisans is a piece from the Riverfront Times, selected by editor Nancy Armstrong for the 20-story compilation. Written by former RFT writer Geri L. Dreiling is the article "When Girls Go Wild," subititled: "They're angry. They're violent. And they have juvenile justic folks stumped." It originally ran April 9, 2003.

The book, published by Chamberlain Bros., features a lead by Steve Almond, author of "Candyfreak," and highlights stories by notable writers such as Greg Tate and Dan Savage.

Used Book Fantasia!

The Carondelet YWCA is running their annual book fair 'til Wednesday the 31st. The hours are 9am to 9pm, with a $6 per bag or box night on Tuesday. (For those who've never been to the Carondelet Y, it's on 600 Loughborough). We just returned from a three-hour stint there, where we wandered around the basketball gym, basement and upstairs offices. The rooms runneth over with books, records, tapes and paper ephemera (& there's two outdoor tents as well).

Really, if you're looking for a great used booksale, I don't think you can do better than Carondelet. The poetry table at most booksales is lousy with Rod McKuen and vanity press, faux-beatnik doggerel, but I found two or three fantastic poetry titles today. Also great is the "Special, Rare, or Old" room. That's where I found "The Eclectic Shopper," a round-up of shopping columns published in the P-D in the early '70s; it's full of descriptions of the milliners and watch repairmen who plied their trade in the city 30-odd years ago. Here's an excerpt from the "Pipes" chapter: "Mrs. Henry A. Jost, proprietor of Jost's Pipe and Tobacco Shop, is one of the 60,000 American women who smoke pipes. Mrs. Jost believes that that many men and women pipe smokers don't know how to smoke a pipe - 'even if they have smoked for 35 years.' She and Harvey Raspberry give lessons in the shop. There are two comfortable chairs in the corner of the shop where a smoker can sit and have his smoking progress checked under the watchful eyes of Mrs. Jost or pipemaker Raspberry."

So here's what we scored:

VINYL
The Unknown Dvorak (Czech, Croatian and Serbian folk songs)
Gregorian Chants by the Vienna Hofburgkapelle Choir

BOOKS

Goethe's Faust, translated by Randall Jarrell
Wolf, Jim Harrison
Dust of Death, O.S. Guinness
Heartlands of Today, Art & Society, Vol. 3
The Book of Powerful Secrets
Addiction to Perfection, Marion Woodman
Encyclopedia Brown Shows the Way, Donald Sobel
The Ceremony and Other Stories, Weldon Kees
Memento Mori, Muriel Spark
Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Fungi, GR Bisbee
The Gregg Shorthand Dictionary
The Poetic Mind, Frederick Clarke Prescott
View with a Grain of Sand, Wislawa Szymborska
The Middle-Aged Man on the Flying Trapeez, James Thurber
Truth, Emile Zola
Joe Hill, Wallace Stegner
Kon-Tiki, Thor Heyerdahl
Pictures of the Gone World, Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Young Pillars, Charles Schultz (pre-Charlie Brown comix w/ spooky stretched-out Peanuts characters as college students)
The Eclectic Shopper, Patricia Rice
All Quiet On the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
On Becoming a Musical, Mystical Bear, Matthew Fox
Strange Women of the Occult, Warren Smith
CIA and American Labor, George Morris
A Short History of India and Pakistan, T. Walter Wallbank
Plunkett of Tammany Hall, William Riordon
Pac-Mania! Haller Schwartz
The Partridge Family No. 5, "Terror Night," Vic Kroom
Dr. Eichenlaub's HOME TONICS and REFRESHERS for Daily Health and Vigor
What Uncle Sam Really Wants, Noam Chomsky
Spoon River Anthology, Edgar Lee Masters
The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Thornton Wilder
Life of Ben Johnson, James Boswell

Total: $28.00 (which included two hot dogs and two bottled waters). Not bad, I say. Especially that Powerful Secrets book - it smells like cigar smoke (or maybe Mrs. Jost's pipe smoke?), but it was only .75, and it really is full of powerful secrets - like how to meditate effectively when you're extremely busy, how to win at Blackjack and how to get your FOIA requested expedited.

Young Fiction at Washington Post

Has anyone been to the Washington Post yet? Apparently it's a new coffeeshop downtown. I like the name, and I suspect I would probably prefer the coffeeshop to the newspaper (ah, I'm a New York Times gal, I admit it). For those who have not been there (like me): the address is 1312 Washington.

This Friday from 7-9pm, they are hosting a young fiction writers reading, including Colleen McKee, Allison Creighton, Andrea Jackson, Emily Lowery, Jim Mense and Seema Mukhi. I've heard Colleen and Emily read, and they're quite good (Colleen's reading for Art Outside, and I saw her read at the KDHX Midwest Mayhem poetry stage in May. Her poems are humorous, and she has amazing Louise Brooks hair).

If you know you can't make it down to the Washington Post to hear young fiction writers, then I recommend this little audio bit at the Washington Post (Newspaper) website, featuring an old, dead writer: Eudora Welty. "Why I Live at the P.O." is an example to young fictionists everywhere, i.e., "this is how it's done."

"Cheap Beer, free poetry and borrowed towns"

Poet and River Styx editor Richard Newman is having a party/reading at Dressel's Pub Above on August 27th at 7 pm to kick off the "Borrowed Town to Town" world tour, to promote his newest book, Borrowed Towns. He'll also have copies of his wildly popular Monster Sonnet book available. For more info on other reading dates, you can visit Richard's website. Says the author about his website, and his tour: "make sure to run your mouse over all the silly drawings. Roadie and groupie applications available upon request."

Readings @ The Schlafly Tap Room

Pencil this in your planner, punch it into your PDA, pin it onto your pinafore...Readings @ The Schlafly Tap Room start September 1st!

Housed at the City Museum and Contemporary Art Museum in years past, this season the “Readings @” series hunkers down in the prestigious Club Room of the Schlafly Tap Room. All events are free and there is a full bar in the reading area. This is a great way to experience a vibrant connection to national poetry culture (75% of poets are from out of town!) while imbibing St. Louis’s finest beer. Curated by Kick Ass Award winner, Aaron Belz, the readings feature an impressive line-up available at http://belz.net/readings/.

What: Eight Events / Twenty Readers
When: First Thursdays of each month starting September 1st, continuing through April 6th
Time: 8-9pm
Location: The Schlafly Tap Room @ 2100 Locust Street (at 21st)
Admission: FREE
Info: http://belz.net/readings/ or aaron@belz.net