The Mad Poets Blog

In January, my girlfriend Donna handed me a book by a guy called Patrick Rosal. “You should read this guy,” she said. “He’s really good.” So I read this guy, and she was right – he’s really good. He’s from New Jersey, which immediately endeared him to me, and his poetry borders on the performance side, with emphasis on sound and rhythm – but his language is so concrete and tangible that the poems work on the page as well as in that sacred space between the poet’s mouth and the audience’s ears. I have been living with his poems since January, carrying their language with me for months now.

So I was thrilled to discover that he was reading at the Barron Arts Center in Woodbridge, NJ. Being a South Jersey girl who is more comfortable in Philly than in North Jersey, I approached the idea of the reading with some trepidation. Driving up the turnpike past exit 9 is something I haven’t done in a long time – but for Patrick Rosal, I decided, it was worth it. And I was not disappointed. (Continued)

Amy Ouzoonian is a Poet, Editor and Playwright from
New York City. She edited two critically acclaimed anthologies, “In The Arms Of Words- Poems for Disaster Relief” and “Skyscrapers, Taxis and Tampons”. Her first collection of poetry “Your Pill” was released by Foothills Publishing. She is the founder of Lock n’ Load Publishing and the editor of A Gathering of the Tribes Magazine. Amy Ouzoonian will be reading for the Mad Poets Society with Robyn Alter-Bielana and Ish Klein at The Last Word Bookshop on October 12^th. For more information on Ouzoonian please visit: http://www.locknloadpublishing.com/

THE INTERVIEW:

Q. You are an accomplished poet, editor and playwright; what is your passion?

A. Being inspired and inspiring others through the filters that I communicate with: music, writing and all forms of performance. 

Q. “In The Arms Of Words- Poems for Disaster Relief” is an anthology from poets around the world dedicated to raising funds for victims of natural disasters. This volume received great critical acclaim. As the editor of this volume, what challenges did you face?

A. Getting a publisher who would take the chance, then selecting the work from hundreds of submissions, and finally selling copies when it was finished. It is still challenging, especially because there are so many other important issues going on that have little to do with natural disaster. The biggest disaster now is the war in Iraq and it’s strange to think that although man does have control over this disaster, our President isn’t taking action to help the Iraqis and U.S. soldiers; the victims of the war in Iraq. 

Q. Much has been said of your performance style when reading your poetry. Where did you first read and who were your major influences in developing your style?

A. I first read poetry at Creations Coffeehouse in New Paltz, NY. That was twelve years ago. There is now an Indian restaurant where the café used to be. I developed my style from listening to poets who were reading at that time. One of my mentors, during that time, Brett Axel, affected my presentation greatly. I learned how to read the poems by listening to myself read them as they were written. The poems knew how they wanted to be presented; I just helped the process along. 

Q. As the editor of “A Gathering of the Tribes” you have come into contact with many poets, as well as traveling the poetry circuit. Who are favorite poets that are active today?

A. Of the ones who are active today, I would have to say that Janine Pommy Vega, Anne Waldman, Steve Dalachinsky, David Mills, Carolyn Forche, and Ruth Stone are my greatest influences.

Q. Foothills Publishing released your first collection of poetry entitled “Your Pill”. How did you develop the collection and do you have any favorites from the collection?

A. The collection had been coming together for about 5 years. I can’t really say how it came together, I fiddled with a few titles for it and the collection was an amalgam of many poems that reflected different times in my writing. The manuscript didn’t have a set intension in the beginning. I guess my favorite from the collection would have to be You Ask Me How Vietnam Changed My Father. 

Q. How would you describe yourself as a poet?

A. A work in progress.

Q. Do you have any new projects in the works?

A. Yes. 

Q. In October you will be reading for the Mad Poets Society in Philadelphia. What should those who attend expect?

A. I will be smelling of autumn leaves and trying to still get away with wearing sandals and as little as possible. As for hearing me read, I hope they have a good time.

As I was reading G Emil’s most excellent interview with Samantha Barrow, I noticed the events calendar in my periphery and that it erroneously reads “No Events.”   This is my fault.  A few weeks ago I started a really exciting new job, and the pace has been pretty nutty.   I’m almost settled in.  I’d like to promise that I’ll update the events calendar this weekend, but in case I don’t, rest assured there are events.  Just check out the Mad Poets’ main page.  Pick a series, any series (right there in the left hand menu), and you’re likely to find a Mad Poets event coming up in a matter of days.

Thanks for your patience.

Samantha Barrow, a traveling poet based out of Philadelphia will read with Glen McLaughlin on May 17 at The Delaware County Institute of Science-7pm in Media, Pa. Barrows has published three books, conducts workshops and tours reading her works. To learn more about Samantha Barrow please visit: http://www.samanthabarrow.com/

THE INTERVIEW:

Q. You have traveled cross country twice reading your works at various venues. Steinbeck also traveled cross country writing “Travels with Charley”. He wrote of the changing landscape at that time in America and the blending of unique cultures into one. What was your impression of the landscape of America during your travels?

I think there should be color coded maps that accompany your Rand McNally that zone according to the regions where you can smoke inside, where vegetarian food is available, and perhaps swath in a lovely sea foam green the places where you can smell sage or sweet grass, like Nebraska and Montana, some parts of TX.    

Q. There are not many poets who would be comfortable reading their poetry in Biker Bars and at The Kelly Writers House. What do you attribute your appeal to both working class folks and academics?

I’ve been a waitress off and on since I was 14.  Getting paid to market a dish to people you don’t instantly like and who don’t instantly like you either teaches you to put a lot of effort into charm and to take a lot of shit.  I am funny on stage and people can understand what I am trying to say.  A lot of our population hates poetry because they “don’t understand it”.  Its insulting to be confused by a language that you are otherwise the master of in your daily life by people who are supposed experts.  I make sure to put enough out there (both in my persona and in my poems) that will connect emotionally with my audiences.  I give them a reason to want to connect back, while I am also offering more challenging thoughts, ideas and aesthetics. I am obviously passionate about what I do, and am engaged in an activity that scares the shit out of me.  I think people relate to my vulnerability.  It’s obvious I am not armored, but I am doing it anyway.  And usually laughing at myself about it.   But also I care about / get turned on by / feel humbled at the sound of words.  When a line sinks down that is impeccable, where every word earns its keep on the page, where the sound of the vowels and consonants and the number of syllables equal the emotional color value of what is being said, when meaning just keeps pouring from that one line the way stars blossom from behind your eyelids when you press your eyeballs back into their sockets with your finger tips, I am in awe.  And I believe to witness another human being in awe is compelling.  

 Q. There is a lot of “buzz” regarding your workshops. What are your goals for the workshop and the benefit for those who attend?

What’s the buzz? Is that a good thing?
People often ask me why I put sexual trauma and erotic joy in the same
thought / workshop whatever – as if it was my idea.  Some humans have
orgasms while they are being raped.  Other people never cum again –
no matter how safe / loving / healthy their sexual situation is.  Our body
memory can’t neatly compartmentalize these things, especially since
sex is about loosing control, connecting to parts of our skins and souls that
are too gigantic to name in civilized fashions.
When violence is done to our bodies or our erotic imaginations, (which
is both a personal and societal epidemic), we need to heal ourselves by
using them properly again.   But sexuality, physical and otherwise, is wild,
unwieldy, misbehaving stuff.  It gets angry when its not supposed to,
responds to people it should rationally hate, can’t take itself
seriously, is ashamed of its rompy desire, and is always a disappointment to the
icon of the perfect victim.   I like to co-create safe places where expression
of all the fucked up connections, self hatreds, shameful desires, and
strange appetites are normalized.  Writing is a tool to do that.  It is
powerful to be alone on the page with yourself in communion with others
where you don’t have to explain or justify yourself to anybody. 
There is lots of time to share our writings, but no one is forced to. Ever. And
the result is that individuals get boosted when others in the circle get free
of some shame or share a little joy.
 

 Q. Have your New England roots coupled with living in Philadelphia influenced your writing and presentation style?

Yes.  I think spring is something you earn by living through the darkness and snow, and sarcasm is almost always appropriate.  Philly is a warm sloppy friendly violent dirty city.     Q. What poets do you consider to be a major influence on you?

Q. Lauren Begnaud wrote of your poetry, “Barrow crafts her words honestly, unabashedly, and without shame.” Do you believe poets who write in this manner could cause a revival of poetry in the United States similar to that which has occurred in Europe?

1. It is an erroneous assertion that I craft “shamelessly.” I am constantly riddled with shame, although I am honest.  I like what she said about “Her voice is that of a woman who has the ability to make the intangible become tangible right before our very eyes” though. And I am grateful to her for reviewing my book.  Georgia O’Keefe wrote “I’m frightened all the time . . . scared to death. But I’ve never let it stop me. Never!”  I can’t say I’ve never let fear stop me, but I like the sentiment.  It is a realistic view of the process of doing things we care about.  Anything that is important is scary.  But as Audre Lorde said, “When I use my strength in the service of my vision, it matters less and less whether I am afraid.” 2. I don’t know what you’re talking about in Europe, but I know there are a lot of exciting things happening in
America that have to do with poetry today.  

 Q. How is your’84 Honda Shadow holding up and will you ever switch to a Harley?

Lavalee died August 23^rd, 2002. See page 84 of GRIT and tender membrane ($13.95 www.planbpress.com ) I’ve been riding Baby, a 2002 midnight purple VStar 650 since then. I wonder sometimes about the 9 miles she got worn before I got her.And as for “will you ever switch to a Harley?” I think there is more to be said for the fact that you (and everybody else) asks that question. I’m thirty one. How am I supposed to know what I’ll do when I double that? A sweet ride is a sweet ride, but for now, all I know is Harleys cost more, especially if you don’t know how to fix them yourself.  

Q. On May 17^th you will be reading for the Mad Poets at the Institute of Science. What should those in attendance expect?

To buy my book. I am unemployed. 

Q. Why are you a poet?

Aw Jesus.  .  . It legitimizes talking to myself and getting impatient about other people not listening.  I like feeling understood.  I like being alone yet feeling connected to the potential of being witnessed in a way I have artful control over.  It is a political tool, a spreader of news, a redefiner of reality.  An insistence that CBS etc doesn’t have the final say.  It’s a way of communicating our beauty and collective strength in struggle. Its a blood line to god.  It’s a good excuse to take naps. Where else would I put our magic stories

There was a time when local book stores, diners and coffee houses defined a business district. Chain operations are quickly wiping out local businesses such as these. It doesn’t matter if the stores are located in boroughs, downtown districts or in suburbia, support for the stores declines as people flock to the chain stores. Stores such as Voices and Visions, Big Blue Marble and Robins in
Philadelphia, Harvest Books in Media support the local literary community. The shelves at these stores are packed with excellent literature by local authors and poets as well as the main stream material you will find at the big boys. Many write of the effects of commercialism on communities across the country, yet don’t support local home grown business.

If you are fortunate enough to have a local book store, coffee house, diner or other such business in your area, step up and support them by purchasing from them. If you would like to find an independent book store near you, check out Book Sense who distributes to local stores at: www.booksense.com . Type in a zip code and they will provide you with a list of stores near you.

Well it’s that time again, kids:

Anything exciting happening this week? Did you just find out about an acceptance or a reading invitation? Do you have an upcoming appearance in person or in a journal? Did you just have a set of poems accepted for broadcast at Skin Radio? Let us know what’s going on!

Bring on the self-promotion!

Last night I headed over to Bryn Mawr College with fellow MPS blogger Anna and our faithful poetry cohort Don Kloss for the last reading in the BMC Visiting Writers Series, given by Yusef Komunyakaa. The reading was held in the Wyndham Alumnae House, which was a lovely – if a bit formal – place. (Remember, I like my poetry with “guts and knuckles,” so parlors and flowered wallpaper are not always the thing for me.) There was a terrific crowd, including a host of students from the college, where Komunyakaa has been teaching a Poetry Master class.

(Continued)

Bloggers like to play games. Bloggers also like attention. So do poets. Come to think of it, I guess all people like a little attention every once in a while. So, in that spirit, I’d like to introduce a new, weekly feature of the Mad Poets Blog — Shameless Self-Promotion Day.

Every Monday, I (or one of the other MPS bloggers) will start a Shameless Self-Promotion post, shamelessly plugging some event or other in which we’re participating, be it as featured reader, host, or even excited audience member. In response, you dear readers, are invited to add comments shamelessly plugging something that you’ve got going on. A reading. A book. A new website or blog. Whatever it is, we want to know. Did I mention that this is your opportunity to be totally shameless??

And if you don’t have anything, checking the thread will probably give you some good leads to help you plan your week in poetry.

Let the games begin.

Two Madpoets events are scheduled for April 21^st.

Madpoets travel to Brooklyn to read for the Brownstone Poetry Series hosted by Patricia Carragon and Evie Ivy at:

FIFTH AVENUE RESTAURANT & DINER

Pottstown will be treated to the poetics of Lamont Steptoe and Aaren Perry at the Otherwise- Poetry at Churchills series hosted by Glenn McLaughlin.

Churchill Artisan Baker & Chocolatier- 7pm
137 E. High Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
484-941-5100

I’m just going to pop in here for a moment to give a plug:

The Quick and Dirty Poets are hosting an open mic on Friday night with featured poet Dan Maguire. If you don’t know Dan, you’re missing out on something great: he’s a good poet, a good reader, and generally speaking a good guy.

You can learn a bit more about Dan by reading this interview with Therese Halscheid for Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission. You can also read his poem “Leaders” here at the Pedestal Magazine.

The reading will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 13th, at the Daily Grind Coffee House in Mt. Holly. Bring two poems to share in the open mic.

We hope to see you there!