Break Time. Edited by Joseph Bergin. www.carpenterpoets.org

Break Time. Edited by Joseph Bergin. http://carpenterpoets.org


In the Boston area, like many other enlightened urban areas, we have poets of all stripes living and reading in close proximity. Off hand I can think of the SLAM poets at the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, the STONE SOUP POETS at the Out of the Blue Art Gallery in the same city, the Bagel Bards who bake in the summer sun at the Au Bon Pain in the Davis Square section of Somerville, the high-toned, and rarefied academic crowd who congregate at the Blacksmith House in Harvard Square, and the list goes on… Well, a few years back, a group of carpenters was working on a mansion on Fisher Hill in Brookline, Mass, when they came across some poems from “Hammer,” by poet and carpenter Mark Turpin. Basically these blue-collar bards were up to the challenge and they started to write poems about carpentry. They had a poetry night and nineteen men and women read their work, and so the “ Carpenter Poets” of Jamaica Plain were born. In the introduction to this volume it is written:

“There’s much to be said about parallels between writing and carpentry. There’s the act of creating something out of common supplies, fitting board-to-board, word-to-word, the beauty of the product and pride in the craft. The house we live in, the poem that lives in us.”


Many of the poems in this collection marry many of the varied props of the carpentry life to the life- at- large, and the life of the poem. The poems are fleshed with the unexpectedly beautiful objects and moments that these men and women encounter in their day’s work.

In the poem “Machine,” by Noah H. Gordon an old carpenter and bard evokes his carnal younger life inspired by a dusty lumber room:

“With Honey flow through lumber room dust
as my mind harkens back to that younger time
I wish a miscut was my only crime
Lord, let me at long last be free lust…

Now as I pass my hands along the wood
It is as though your warm flesh I caress
We merged for a moment in the darkness
And then we were swept along in life’s flood

I’ve learned to drill out love in the machine
Drifting in the world like I’m in a dream.”


Recommended.

Doug Holder/ Ibbetson Update

A Short Film"Bagel Bards" produced by Chad Parenteau

THE BAGEL BARDS

A group of poets and writers that meet every Saturday morning at the Au Bon Pain in Davis Sq, Somerville at 9AM

Adam's Ribs by Terry Adams

Adam’s Ribs
Poems by Terry Adams
Off the Grid Press
P.O. Box 84
Weld, Maine 04285
www.offthegridpress.net
ISBN: 978-0-9778429-2-6
Copyright © 2008 Terry Adams


At first take, I tried to shape a thought-link between the book title and the author’s name.
An assumption that “Adam’s Ribs” was a word-play alluding to the author himself,
(the author, of course named Terry Adams, with an “s”). Or that this collection poses
poetical claim to the fated “first man”, also known in the Kabala as the “Primal Man”.
The title poem could be read as an allegory for the poetic process where the actual ribs of Adam are ornaments of earthly understanding:

“The toil of all my days will live me again.” . . .
My children will crawl upon the earth
and nest on the earth; will increase themselves
out of their skins and give their old masks to the earth,”

Not a rejoicing in death, but a theme of returning and conclusion gives spine to Adams’ work.
“Adam’s Ribs” examines and exhumes the realm of mortality as it diffuses its chalky hand through the mundane-everyday.Terry Adams’ images are colorful, his subject matter is often risky,(the poem “Balls” for instance), and his style is anecdotal. The poems flux between short and long,the latter being at-odds with the current literary climate.

A high level of searching and reflection prods the speaker’s voice throughout.
A literal holding up of details, to both reveal and revel in.
The poem, “After the Laying-On of Hands” holds a sad tone. The act of laying-on-of-handsretains its metaphysical nature and purpose while at the same time, the poem takes on a Tibetan “Book of the Dead”- ish feel:

“He is an embryo feeling the vague drama
of his mother’s life though
a scrim of stretched flesh,
before the forces beyond itself deliver it out against any will.
I dream I would heal him by touching him,
because I contain an excess of the battles with many deaths.
I would rest my hand on his tumor,
make it glow hot and golden
in the shape of his diaphragm,
dissolve the cancer cells into
a little Eucharist of waste, an abortion
of the fore life, but he will not finish
as a living man.”



In “Forgiveness”, Adams arrives through a round-about way to acknowledging an undisclosed person who committed a crime that almost escaped going unnoticed. Or is the speaker forgiving himself forfinding what he found? The speaker finds a mother dog and six puppies all shot through the head in a clearing by the interstate,“skeletons lined up neatly / like bodybags in the news from a minor nation.”

The speaker announces, to either themself, the reader of the killer of the
dogs that this poem is a wish poem and that:

. . . “I wished for / the impossible. I wished
something other than insanity or cruelty
did the killing, and my wish
is a crime against understanding.”
Finally resolving:
“I can’t stop thinking
of all the possible excuses
for the killer, all the kinds os desperation
living out there with a gun
and no face.”

In the final poem, “I Want to See”, Adams wants to see every thought he ever thought
written down; a bold statement, a tough task and totally scarey for anyone to dare see.
He intends:
“I want worded the echoing caves where I first understood,
and each sensation of singular time expanded to a phrase.”

“The Dump” is a catalogue of the old remnants of life that get “plowed under”
for real in the dump after serving their purpose. The speaker “lofts” and throws these
“components of every whole / thing no longer a whole” while ruminating:
“The Apache have a word Alaya, that means
‘Changes while flying through air’.”

“Adam’s Ribs” brings an amalgam of worldly details to the surface and leaves them
unsheathed in celebration.

Mike Amado is a reviewer for the Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scense
and the author of "stunted Inner Child Shot the TV" ( Cervena Barva Press).

From the Paris of New England: Interviews with Poets and Writers

I am currently working on a collection of my interviews that for the most part appeared in The Somerville News. Caitlin Jackson, an intern from the Connectitut College, is currently editing the collection. This book hopefully will be out in the fall through my own press the "Ibbetson Street Press." Mike Basinski, curator the Poetry and Rare Book Collection at the University of Buffalo has agreed to write the introduction. This will be volume 1 ... I plan to to do a second volume in late 2009...if the god lord is willing and the creek don't rise...



--Doug Holder





Below is the title and the list of interviews....













From the Paris of New England: Interviews with Poets and Writers








With Doug Holder











Author’s Note



Publications where these interviews have appeared:



The Somerville News

Hunger Magazine

Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene (online)

Middlesex Beat

Poesy

Spare Change News

Some Other Magazine (online)















Special Thanks To:



Donald and Jamie Norton, Biil Tauro (The Somerville News) Wendy Blom (Somerville Community Access TV), Steve Gilnes (ISCS Press), Caitlin Jackson, Mike Basinki (Buffalo University Libraries).







Table of Contents
Eva Salzman…………………………………………………………………7

Mike Basinski………………………………………………………………...10

Errol Uys…………………………………………………………………….13

Lan Samantha Chang………………………………………………………..16

Louisa Solano………………………………………………………………..18

Miriam Levine……………………………………………………………….20

Mark Doty…………………………………………………………………...23

Claire Messud………………………………………………………………..28

Lisa Beatman…………………………………………………………………30

Martha Collins………………………………………………………………..32

Dick Lourie…………………………………………………………………35

Robert Creeley…………………………………………………………………38

Afaa Michael Weaver…………………………………………………………40

Jack Powers………………………………………………………………...42

Ed Sanders…………………………………………………………………..45

Tom Perrotta…………………………………………………………………48

Diana Der-Hovanessian………………………………………………………50

Luke Salisbury…………………………………………………………………52

Sarah Hannah…………………………………………………………………55

Hugh Fox……………………………………………………………………...57



Lo Galluccio…………………………………………………………………60



Timothy Gager……………………………………………………………….63



Gloria Mindock…………………………………………………………66



Marc Widershien…………………………………………………………67



Deborah M. Priestly………………………………………………………71



Steve Almond…………………………………………………………….73



Pagan Kennedy


Robert K.Johnson

Harris Gardner

Ibbetson Street Press Author Susie Davidson Brings “In Gratitude and Hope” to the German-Jewish communities.

( Vorwerk -- Right)


Ibbetson Street Press Author Susie Davidson Brings “In Gratitude and Hope” to the German-Jewish communities.

By Doug Holder

The Ibbetson Street Press of Somerville has released a collection of remarks titled: “In Gratitude and Hope,” made to the Boston-area Jewish community by former German Consul to Boston Wolfgang K. Vorwerk. Vorwerk who was Consul from 2004 to June 2008 was asked to speak at the annual Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) services at Faneuil Hall in Boston in 2005. During his tenure Vorwerk has reached out to the Jewish community. Vorwerk made presentations at Temple Israel in Boston, Temple Shalom in Newton, Mass, House of Representatives, State House, Boston, Mass., and other forums. He facilitated German/Jewish dialogue; spoke to Holocaust survivors, Nazi resistors, and the general community-at-large. Vorwerk has also helped with the funding of several Holocaust-related initiatives.

In response to requests Jewish Advocate journalist and editor of the Holocaust anthology “I Refused to Die…,” ( Ibbetson Street) Susie Davidson has edited and annotated a collection of the former Consul’s remarks. This 93 page book includes photos, a foreword by Vorwerk, and a speech by German Chancellor Angela Merkel before the Knesset in Israel, among other highlights.

Vorwerk has displayed much sensitivity to the Jewish community. The Consul is well aware that some segments of the Jewish community harbor anger towards Germans and Germany. Vorwerk emphasizes past issues do not have to render all parties mute. In his own remarks he recalls his own struggle with the past, and the responsibility left to all Germans today.

The book was given out to Holocaust survivor community members at a June 22, 2008 luncheon at Temple Emeth in Chestnut Hill. Vorwerk, Davidson are convinced that that the book will leave behind a deep and lasting historic impression for the community, and many generations to come.

Copies can be purchased through the Ibbetson Street Press: http://www.ibbetsonpress.com contact 617-628-2313

And:

German Consulate pr-ioo@bost.diplo.de 617-369-4917

Small Press Fair at Lowell+ Mass. Poetry Festival

( click on title for more info. about festival)


The Small Press Fair: When we were first asked to be a part of this festival, we expressed our idea that in order for this to really "work" that we should highlight small press publishing and show its importance to the craft of poetry—without a small press culture, there is no sustainable poetics.



The goal is to reach out and draw in a sizable crowd--one which will hopefully support poetry by buying books. We'd like to think that Lowell could become a Columbus Day destination every year--you come and sell books and hang out in Kerouac's city in the middle of a New England autumn. The city will also be covered with poetry as public art and should be a visual treat.



But this can't happen without some help from you—to add some legitimacy to this event.



If you are interested?



Please contact us as soon as possible. The Book Fair and related panels will take place all day on Saturday, October 11th.



We will also keep you in contact of events as they arise and are booked--and can help with suggestions if you choose to stay in downtown Lowell for one or two of the nights--The Doubletree is a great hotel, very affordable, right at the heart of all the events in downtown--only a stones throw away from Kerouac Park--has nice views of the city, canals, the Merrimack River (immortalized by both Kerouac and Thoreau) and the New Hampshire hills. Drive about an hour in any direction from Lowell and you could end up in Boston, Providence, the beginning of Cape Cod, Salem MA, Gloucester MA, The New Hampshire and Maine Coasts, the Appalachian trail in New Hampshire (great hiking), the Berkshires, Walden Pond--the list goes on....



More… about Lowell & the Mass Poetry Festival:



Lowell already has a strong literary tradition to build from, and since Lowell received status as a Historic National Park over 25 years ago, the city has focused effort and funding to promote itself as a historic and cultural destination. As part of the milieu of a revitalized downtown, the largest and (we would argue) most successful free music and ethnic Folk Festival in the country, as well as the rich cultural history represented with its population—Lowell will begin hosting what we hope will be a successful and energetic Poetry Festival every year.



Members of the planning committee are drawing off of prior experience as well as contacts and institutional organizations that have made Lowell a great place to hold Festivals: i.e. The Lowell Folk Festival, Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL), The Revolving Museum, and UMass Lowell are just a few of the organizations involved in planning and (just as importantly) in securing funding.


--
Derek Fenner and Ryan Gallagher
Bootstrap Productions
www.bootstrapproductions.org
bootstrapproductions@gmail.com