14 June 2006

in the mail today & musings on poet laureate

in the mail today was the new issue of small press review (Vol. 38 Nos. 5-6). a review of Naked Knuckle #6 was featured and it included quotes of poems by both Hosho McCreesh and our very own Christopher Cunningham. congrats, guys. you know my thoughts on your work, so it's just good to know others are noticing, too.

on the drive home from work today, i was ruminating about the announcement that Donald Hall will be new (and 14th) Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. there wasn't much a fucking announcement, really. just some tiny blurbs in the papers (or at least in their online facades). instead, we hear more about Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. ridiculous.

anyway, it seems to me that the announcement of a new Poet Laureate would be a big fucking deal. i think it is. or at least i think it should be. oh well.

at least there's still those of us like McCreesh and Cunningham rewriting the myths for the next generation.

20 comments:

christopher cunningham said...

dandy. thanks for the mention. that fucker mccreesh is the most underrated poet working/not working today. as soon as he gets his shit together (and he is, stronger each day...) he is gonna crush all of us with work that will make our poems seem like the musings of half-retarded wire-haired nutdiggers. and if any of you chumps want some of his work, email me or j.b and we'll make sure mccreesh shoots some your way.

and as for me, I'm leaving the poem making up to Tommy, my NSA agent.

more time for "ovaltining."

christopher cunningham said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
j.b said...

i agree with you on McCreesh, and both look forward to and fear the day he returns. look forward to because, obviously, he's an immense talent and i love his stuff.

fear because when he comes back all of my own hackneyed attempts at poetry will become obsolete. i mean, damn it, i've already got to contend with the likes of you and LCB and Glenn Cooper. jesus.

i bet Tommy is one helluva poet. i believe it.

christopher cunningham said...

got you covered...

j.b said...

i gotta tell you, i really am looking forward to Hosho's return. i owe him a letter. probably two.

i owe everyone at least one letter.

anyway, it'll be nice to see his words again. they sear.

christopher cunningham said...

me too. I've read some of his latest poetry in his letters to me and I tell you man he is devestating (sp?). brutal. hard diamond lines that rip yer guts right the fuck out.

beautiful.

I sent him an email and will let you guys know.

C ALLEN: send me an email, or JB forward me an email addy for you (CAR.) & street addy so I can give it to McCreesh.

Kat said...

I'm not familiar with McCreesh but feel after reading this that I ought to be. Is there somewhere on line that I can read his work?

christopher cunningham said...

probably not. "google" his name, Hosho McCreesh and you come up with a few items, but no poems, I dont think. I will email him and get him to send you a submission, Kat. you'll like it.

Kat said...

Christopher-Thank you so much. It sounds like he's pretty amazing. Can't wait to hear from him. :)

christopher cunningham said...

please check the post on UPRIGHT for more on MCCREESH:

McCreesh poetry

Luis said...

kat: did i send you a copy of
remark #25 (the first remark
print version); three poems by
Hosho McCreesh there; also you
can order issues of Silt Reader
or the American Dissident, more
poems there for you to read.
Also, poetry in Bathtub Gin #6
and Struggle Fall 2002.

j.b said...

thanks for your post on SAVAGE HEAVENS chris! well done.

Kat, Hosho is really amazing. and he makes it look so goddamn easy. a true sign of genius is making the impossible look easy.

he was around for a while, but i believe just got burnt out on the whole scene (i can understand that, and i know chris can empathize as well). hopefully, he comes back with renewed vigor.

we are waiting Hosho!

Kat said...

Christopher-From what I read on your blog...wow! Please send this guy my way!

Luis-Yes, you did. I'll go look through it right now.

justin-making it look easy...that's always how you can tell! And burnt out on the whole scene...I think I sort understand. Not totally because I have not been doing this as long as any of you. I'm still sort of excited about the whole thing! :)

j.b said...

good stuff...thanks for posting them, chris!

i am torn about the existence of someone like McCreesh. why torn? his poetry makes my life fuller. so full, in fact, that it's painful.
but, his poetry is so amazing, so brilliant, so powerful, that my own feeble attempts at it are shown to be the farces they are in comparison. without him my life would be emptier, but with him my poetry is.

tough one, that. in the end, i'm glad he's around and writing. just means i have to up my game. if i can't, then Darwinian selection will eradicate me. hell, us all.

christopher cunningham said...

good posts, thanks chris K., espec. those are good poems, the "one for the people who think..." is in DEEP SURFACE FISSURES, so if you want it, anyone out there, email me or j.b and we'll get McCreesh's ass in gear.

no problem CAR. my pleasure. I mean, who the fuck likes to pimp themselves? DEFINITELY not McCreesh.

j.b, I'm gonna have Frimp punch you in the neck if you don't stop slighting your own good godamn work, you punk.

christopher cunningham said...

one more McCreesh for the road:

& the sad truth is

...there's more courage in a
seed
that splits & pushes itself
up through the earth,
forces itself into the sky
than there is in
every human
that has ever lived
or ever
will.

- Hosho McCreesh

j.b said...

now that is a fucking poem. oh i miss his stuff. just makes me want to move into my damn house that much more.

oh, and that fucking Frimp just punched my in the throat. kinda hurt, too, but he's a little guy and i'm a big guy so it wasn't too bad.

fucking Frimp!

j.b said...

glad you're liking Hosho. guy can lay the line down like very few ever could.

i've read some Sharon Olds. not much; and it's been a long time since i last read anything by her. maybe i should check her out again.

Luis said...

i read her stuff a long time ago.

j.b said...

that is powerful.

is this a true story? jesus.

great images and wonderful word choices and metaphors.

brutal. thanks for posting it Casey!