West Coast Post-Journal w/Bad Camera Phone #6

Vintage covers: I’m mostly ignorant of Harvey Shapiro’s work, but that didn’t stop me from picking up this copy of Battle Report based both on the glorious nature of the cover and Jed Rasula’s constant referencing of his criticism.  See also vintage cover kin Julie Doxsee’s Objects for a Fog Death which I read in the hotel room this was taken in. “Metalhead,” “Metal Tour,” “Secret Water” & “Hotel” are essential poems here: spare, sharp–simultaneously elusive and incisive–like a nuclear moth. Or something.

Beglin: Hey, check out Brian. He’s in Seattle now.

Seed Coffin:

THIS THURS: Pigafetta and Biscuits in Chicago Plus Easter Egg

Shoot me an email if you want to come and I’ll let the hosts know. If you’re in Lafayette maybe we’ll car pool. This will be my first/last Midwest Pigafetta reading. The rest this year are all on the East Coast.

Also, the other poets look tremendous.

Also, I just ate a bunch of corn fritters.

West Coast Post-Journal w/Bad Camera Phone #5

I saw Michael Martinez’ and Craig Santos Perez’ (MM introduced me to CSP’s work) books at City Lights Bookstore. City Lights! I enjoyed both of these books–Heredities and from unincorporated territory–and here they were. Does being on City Light’s shelf make you a big dog? Should I want to be a big dog? Arf.

Martinez and Perez are a part of what has been articulated as THE LATINO AVANT GARDE. There is something exciting going on with the “latino avant garde,” what they’re negotiating and how they’re negotiating it. Keep yr eyes peeled. I’m trying. Or look here, here, or here. Feel free to add more “here’s.” Obviously, I’m attached to one source.

Here’s an old dog I met: