The Bottle & the Book by J.L. Martindale & Daniel McGinn

(pb; 2015: limited-release poetry chapbook with CD)

Overall review:

All the works in this thirteen-poem chapbook are worth reading -- and publishing. All of them have at least one line that impressed or interested me, though a few stood out (see below). Its accompanying CD, with selective readings by the book authors, further bring these poems to aural, emotion-imbued life: worth purchasing, this. You can buy it here.


Standout poems:

1.) "Sometimes I breathe" (particularly the first/page two version of it) - Martindale and McGinn: Intense, not-quite-a-call-and-response recurrent/evolving work whose stifling desperation alternates with different-trip realities and sensibilities. This poem is effective in its display of relational futility, deafness and blindness.


2.) "Let Us Rebel Against the Inevitable" - Martindale: Multi-sensory vivid, feel-like-you're-there work.


3.) "Every Time It Rains" - McGinn: Soothing, interesting rebuttal to the image-intensive "Rewrite My Sorrow" (written by Martindale).


4.) "I Pull You With the Weeds" - Martindale: Sharp, era-specific, sad and darkly funny versework. This, as of this writing, is my favorite poem in this chapbook.

**One of my poems, Northward, (not so) thrilling, was published on the Leaves of Ink site

One of my mainstream poems, Northward, (not so) thrilling, was published on the Leaves of Ink site.

This autobiographical versework sketches out a long, dead-of-night and creepily tactile walk down a long road.

(Again, many thanks to editor E.S. Wynn for publishing the poems, which are set to appear in my 2016 follow-up book to Mondo febrifuge: omnibus poems.)

**An overview of J.L. Martindale's published works, 2010 - 2015

J.L. Martindale, whose In Sepia graced the Microstory A Week site in December 2010, has been published numerous times since then. These works include:

Two poems in the verse collection A Poet is a Poet No Matter How Tall: Poems by Poets of All Shapes and Sizes.

Waiting on Winter, an image-vivid, autumn-stark relationship poem, published on the Cadence Collective: Long Beach Poets site on December 1, 2013.

Simple Harmonic Motion, a music-and-sensuality piece, published on the Cadence Collective site on January 25, 2014.

Spliced, an emotionally-harsh versework highlighting booze and bitterness. The Cadence Collective site published this on February 24, 2014.

Beautiful, an aggressive-in-spirit take on notions of attractiveness, dark music and romance. The Cadence Collective site published this on March 12, 2014.

Cons in Prose: A How-to Guide, a clever, funny poem about reading at open mics. The Cadence Collective site published this on April 16, 2014.

Last Line Epiphanies, about being an aging, socially "respectable" punk, and the doubts that entails. The Cadence Collective site published this on May 23, 2014.

I Lie When We Lay, an emotionally-wracked piece about troubling, complicated bonds of intimacy. The Cadence Collective site published this on June 18, 2014.

No Afterlife for Garbage, with its straight take on our material objects. The Cadence Collective site published this on January 28, 2015.

Lovers like us and ghost towns, about the past and symbolic archeology. The Cadence Collective site published this on February 4, 2015.

Martindale co-authored a verseworks anthology (The Bottle & the Boot) with Daniel McGinn. This limited-release chapbook comes with a CD of selected readings from the book. You can purchase it here.

Three of her poems -- Afterbirth; Deliverance (Birth is a Violent Lover) and I Pull You with the Weeds --  was included in the jazz-enhanced spoken-word reading CD/download Prose, Rhythm and Noise: Muliebrity, Vol. 1, released in May 2015.  (One of Martindale's works, I Pull You with the Weeds, also appears in the aforementioned The Bottle & the Boot.)

One of her poems, Like a Dog, was included in the jazz-enhanced spoken-word reading CD/download, Prose, Rhythm and Noise: Muliebrity, Vol. 2, also released in May 2015.

**One of my poems, Marker (asterisk edit), was published on the Leaves of Ink site

One of my verseworks, Marker (asterisk edit), was published on the Leaves of Ink site.

This mainstream poem lists the lingering after-effects of a too-brief love affair. It is the third piece in the loosely linked First Love series, following Beyond a fearful door and The long-ago dreamt.

(Again, many thanks to editor E.S. Wynn for publishing the poems, which are set to appear in my 2016 follow-up book to Mondo febrifuge: omnibus poems.)

**One of my poems, The long-ago dreamt, was published on the Leaves of Ink site

One of my verseworks, The long-ago dreamt, was published on the Leaves of Ink site.

This mainstream poem details a half-remembered, half-dreamt afternoon in a not-quite-a-lover's embrace. It is the second piece in the loosely linked First Love series, following Beyond a fearful door and preceding Marker (asterisk edit).

(Again, many thanks to editor E.S. Wynn for publishing the poems, which are set to appear in my 2016 follow-up book to Mondo febrifuge: omnibus poems.)

**One of my mainstream poems, Beyond a fearful door, was published on the Leaves of Ink site

Beyond a fearful door, one of my newer poems, was published on the Leaves of Ink site.

This verseworks charts the devastation -- and the beginnings of maturation -- that result from a California-themed romantic break-up. It is also a free-form piece that is loosely connected to two reworked (and soon to be published) poems The long-ago dreamt and Marker (asterisk edit), as well as the soon-to-be published story My First Love, in three confessional seasons.

(Again, many thanks to editor E.S. Wynn for publishing the poems, which are set to appear in my 2016 follow-up book to Mondo febrifuge: omnibus poems.)

**One of my mainstream poems, Disparate voices, was republished on the Leaves of Ink site

Disparate voices, one of my older and thematically cobbled-together poems, was republished on the Leaves of Ink site yesterday.

The poem, which shows four different viewpoints and time periods, centers around a mentally ill woman and how her erratic behavior affects those around her.

(Many thanks to editor E.S. Wynn for republishing the poem, which also appeared in my 2014 single-author poetry anthology Mondo febrifuge: omnibus poems.)

 

**Three of my poems were republished in the anthology Poems To F*ck To

 

Three of my older romantic poems -- Invited; action, as well as It comes down to this, every time and Salvation (previously published as Oh, Emma) -- were republished in the anthology Poems To F*ck To (editors: Jason Brain and Chelsea Cohen).

Poems also contains Rick Lupert's travel- and verseworks-clever piece England, one of my favorite poems in this anthology.

This sexy, playful and loving collection, put out by Poetry In Motion Publishing House, can be purchased at Createspace and Amazon.

 

**My latest poetry anthology, Mondo febrifuge: omnibus poems, was published today

I just published my second of two books this year - Mondo febrifuge: omnibus poems, which mixes older previous published (and reworked) mainstream verses with quite a few newer works penned within the past two years.

The poems are, per my usual style, rough and tumble free verse works that detail a tumultuous youth dealing with my own fictionalized dumbassery and growing up, a journey infused with the loving, often raw elements of familial discontent, religion, sex, horror films, heavy metal, nature (read: animals) and living in northern California and eastern Washington state.  While these poems are mainstream, many of them would sport hard R-ratings if they were films subjected to the MPAA film board.

Like Welcome to Horrorsex County: microstories, published earlier this autumn, it's a personal milestone book - a way for me to officially bid farewell to one phase of my writing and move onto the next, whatever its final form takes.

 Feel free to click on the above links if you (or anyone you know) would be interested in picking up the aforementioned books. They cost $9 or less (+s/h) apiece, and thanks for the support!

 (back cover of Mondo febrifuge)

**One of my mainstream poems Shred, gouge, fly was republished in Leaves of Ink ezine

One of my older mainstream poems, Shred, gouge, fly, was republished in the Leaves of Ink ezine on May 7th, 2014.  (Many thanks to editor Earl S. Wynn, a.k.a. E.S. Wynn, for this.)

This celebratory poem is about a writer whose appreciation for his current life and lover is enhanced by his acceptance and understanding about his past.  (Shred, gouge, fly was originally published in my 2011 single-author anthology Behind the wheel: selected poems.)

Check this poem out, if you're so inclined and have the time!

**One of my older poems, The return sidetrips, was published in Smashed Cat ezine

One of my older mainstream poems, The return sidetrips, was published in Smashed Cat ezine today.  (Again, gratitude goes to editor Earl S. Wynn, a.k.a. E.S. Wynn, for this.)

This poem, which details the lysergic William S. Burroughs-esque (and hopefully brief) madness of an apartment-bound writer, has not been published anywhere else, so check it out if you're so inclined!

**One of my poems, Ephemeral, was republished in Leaves of Ink ezine

One of my older mainstream verseworks, Ephemeral, was published in the Leaves of Ink ezine today.  (Many thanks to editor Earl S. Wynn, a.k.a. E.S. Wynn, for this.)

This poem is about a man who misses hanging out with his ex-fiancée's imaginative son.  (Ephemeral was originally published in my 2011 single-author anthology Behind the wheel: selected poems under the title Ephemeral stepfather.)

Check this poem out!

**One of my mainstream poems, Berlin, 1944, was republished in Phantom Kangaroo magazine

One of my older mainstream poems, Berlin, 1944, was republished in issue 19 of Phantom Kangaroo magazine.    (Big thanks to editor Claudia Lamar for this.)

If you have the time and are so inclined, check this poem out!

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This poem also appears in my 2012 single-author anthology Almost there: poems.  It was originally published on the Erotica Readers & Writers Association site in March 2002.

**Two of my poems were published in Stormcloud Poets: First Anthology

Two of my poems - advent and 415 vista reunion - were published in Stormcloud Poets: First Anthology.  advent  is about the aftermath of a friend's death; 415 vista reunion is about the joy of hanging out with another friend after a long time apart.

Thanks, once again, to editor/author E.S. Wynn (a.k.a. Earl S. Wynn) for including my work in his 136-page poetry collection - it's an honor to work with such an accomplished and inspiring word-conjurer. 

Stormclouds Poets: First Anthology purchase links are here, for its various publishing formats - electronic and hard copy.

Lady Lack, by Misty Rampart

(pb; 2012: erotic poetry mini-anthology)


Overall review:

Lady Lack is a fifteen-page, excellent raunch-and-romance verse anthology, from its tell-don't-show pieces (e.g., "Puritanical Theories") to its visually-better pieces (see below) and its multipart mini-epics ("Fairy Tales").  Rampart, with engaging ease, pulled me into her thought-provoking work, whether she was blurring and challenging the lines of what (inherently) constitutes kink, how gender roles and carnal history really "mark" us as individuals, etc.

I didn't love every poem in this super-short collection, but every poem had some element - a line, a notion, a tone, whatever - that drew me in, sometimes challenged my outlook, and - more importantly - stuck  with me, as a reader.

Superb verse anthology, this - one of my all-time favorites, as of this writing.


Standout poems:

1.)   "Hallulejah Roughrider": Good visuals in this one.  This intense, effective poem contrasts the truth of a woman's sexual identity and desires versus her lover-perceived self and history. 


2.)   "It":  One of my favorite poems in this mini-anthology.  Swinging takes a toll on a couple - the last line caps the poem up with a stunning visual.


3.)   "Scar Tissue":  Sad-hued, semi-emotive revealing of a kink-minded and troubled sexual relationship.  Was immediately immersed in this one.


4.)   "Heart on a Chain":  A woman's erotic devotion to her man - and vice-versa - conjures deeper, (possibly) ambivalent wonderings.  Striking end-line to this.


5.)   "Over the rainbow":  Excellent poem about romance and raunchy familiarity with a lover.  This is also one of my favorite poems in this collection, with some especially standout lines ("You are meat muscle magic without the / music. / You are a throbbing holiday, / a celebration.")


6.)   "China Doll":  Headrush-style write, merging rough sex and art.


7.)   "The King Arises":  Shakespeare-referencing take on the (possible) cause and effect of lust and death.


8.)   "Pink Litter":  Lust takes an especially dark and line-scattered turn.


9.)   "The way of the world":  The thrill of the new, and relative monogamy - enjoyable or not - are tested and reinforced.  Incisive, effective.

**One of my poems, Habit rip (Abel Ferrara mix), was republished in Smashed Cat

One of my abstract, nervier poems, Habit rip (Abel Ferrara mix), was republished on the Smashed Cat site on September 17th, 2013. (Big thanks to E.S. Wynn, who published it!)

Visually speaking, Habit rip isn't one of my better pieces, but it's different and experimental (for me, anyway) - and it was inspired by the cinematic works of director Abel Ferrara.

Check this poem out!

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This poem originally appeared in one of my single-author anthologies, Almost there: poems (which can be purchased via Lulu and Amazon).

**Two of Richard Cody's poems were published on the Strong Verse site

Richard Cody, whose microstories – Alice and Lisa - appeared on the Microstory A Week site, has published two excellent poems, Beware and The Reason Why, on the Strong Verse site.

Check these poems out!

I Am a Pole (And So Can You!), by Stephen Colbert

(hb; 2012: humor/nonfiction picture book. Illustrations by Paul Hildebrand)

From the inside flap:

"Can't get enough of Pole? Look for these sequels:

"Pole Learns His ABCs

"Pole in Outer Space

"Pole Has a Bar Mitzvah

"Pole Goes to Bangkok

"Pole Meets Another Pole

"Pole Meets the Other Pole's New Boyfriend.

"Pole Does Something Else

"How the Pole Stole Christmas

"Pole Learns About Copyright Infringement

". . . and many, many more!"

Review:

Silly, satirical children's book that's not quite for children, filtered through Stephen Colbert's Right Wing pundit persona. I haven't chuckled this often at a book in a long time, because of stanza-gems like the following:

"I tried and failed at other things,
That I shouldn't talk about.
Like that summer with the phone poles,
Getting totally strung out."

Paul Hildrebrand's illustrations - children's book-true and clever - are the perfect accompaniment to Pole's verses, which I read several times all the way through - and chuckled at every time.

If you're a Stephen Colbert fan, this is worth owning. Adding to the joy of this quick read is Maurice Sendak's snarky faux-blurbs, and other contributions to the book. (Sendak, a friend of Colbert's, was on The Colbert Report shortly before he died on May 8, 2012.)

**Basil Rosa has had three poems published in the Spring-Fall 2012 issue of Umbrella magazine

Basil Rosa, whose He held on and she kept saying time to go graced the Microstory A Week site last October, has had three more poems published: Anomia Simplex, Crepiduia Fornicata and Mytilus Edulis, on the Umbrella site.

These poems, which make wonderfully restrained use of color, imagery, nature and emotion, achieve an effect/level most poets - including myself - can only hope for.

Check these poems out!