To begin ...

As the twentieth century fades out
the nineteenth begins
.......................................again
it is as if nothing happened
though those who lived it thought
that everything was happening
enough to name a world for & a time
to hold it in your hand
unlimited.......the last delusion
like the perfect mask of death

Monday, October 25, 2021

IN THE SHADOW OF A MAD KING: READING & GIFT EVENT

 

Yesterday, October 24, I arranged & participated in a launch reading & gift event focused on a new book of my poems, “In the Shadow of a Mad King: 'Lies',” printed privately & beautifully adorned with full-color illustrations (as above)  by Sadie Rothenberg. The small eight-poem artist's book was designed by us to be distributed completely out-of-commerce to any and all who might desire a copy. To that end, for as long as copies last, I will be offering them as gifts to all at future readings and travels. but am not sure for the moment how to make them available otherwise. For me, after a life of poetry in which I was fortunate enough to have over a hundred published volumes, this marks a return to early ambitions toward the practice of poetry as a gift-freely-given.
      I would add here that the launch and reading took place at my home in Encinitas, California, where the reading of the poems was accompanied by the great bassist and our dear friend & neighbor Mark Dresser. In the hope too that videos of that part of the event will soon be available.

N.B. Video now available on YouTube at Jerry Rothenberg QRLI8516.

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