Reviews

GRACE – Poems by Barbara Bullard; CD (2007)

Barbara Bullard, a blind poet from Southern California, has put together a fine collection of her poetry on this CD. There is some musical accompaniment that will help those who require a break from just the bare words of Ms Bullard, most notably an interpretation of the first poem, Drowning, performed by Paul Birge. For me, I’d rather just hear Barbara’s voice and words. Most notable are the poems Drowning, As They Disappear, Grace, Perspective and Just Once (a brilliant rant against being politely blind). Look for it on CDBaby.

END CYCLE – Poems about caregiving by Patricia Wellingham-Jones (2007)

I first read the Patricia’s poetry in her chapbook Don’t Turn Away, about her battle with breast cancer. It was a moving and sometimes difficult read (and by difficult I mean the subject made me wince at times). I called Patricia a healing poet. Here with this new collection, concerning her husband’s last illness and death. It is a masterwork by a dedicated caregiver and nurse. I believe that anyone who is taking care of an invalid can draw solace from Patricia’s crystal clear observations. Few poets that I am aware of deal with life’s end game as well as she does. By the way, this collection was picked as the winner of the Palabra Productions Chapbook contest winner of 2006 (somebody over at Palabra Prod. Has their head screwed on straight). An excellent read. Visit www.wellinghamjones.com for information on purchasing this book.

d.a. levy & the mimeograph revolution
Edited by: Larry Smith & Ingrid Swanberg; Bottom Dog Press, P.O. Box 425 Huron, Ohio 44839: Price: $25 / 264 Pages

A few months ago I asked Chris Harter, Editor/Publisher of Bathtub Gin who are some the pioneers in the small press movement. He said without a doubt one of them had to be the late d.a. levy of Cleveland, Ohio. This was the first time I had heard of d.a. levy. When levy shot himself in November of 1968, I was fourteen years old. With five older siblings who were all politically active, I was well aware of the Cultural Revolution that was unfolding around me: civil rights, the Viet Nam war, Woodstock….the counter culture. This moment in time was vividly brought back to life for me in the mimeo graph revolution. In his Editor’s Notes in the May-June 2007 Small Press Review, Len Fulton says that the mimeo graph revolution “is almost overwhelming in its reach and passion for its subject. It is sobering to think that one young person could accomplish to much in so short a time, while confronting torment from within – and genuine torments from without.” While I enjoyed reading levy’s poetry and seeing his visual art, what I found most compelling were the numerous interviews with him from this time period. They reminded me how ground breaking the free speech movement of the 1960’s was, and what a wonderful, diverse and passionate group of poets were at the forefront of this effort. If you love the small press, poetry, and the freedom of expression we all hold so dear, you must read this book.

Charles P. Ries

The Southern California Anthology
Volume XXI – 2006; Annual

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences counts among its manifold members Yevgeny Yevtushenko, who writes a poem on a recent disaster at home, “School in Beslan”. He sees himself as “a drop-out of all the world’s schools,” he goes to Beslan for a lesson. “Beslan, I know I am a bad father... // Everything was jumbled up in Beslan: / horror, disorder, confusion... // Between charred school desks and clouds of smoke, / Mohammed and Christ wander like brothers / picking up the children by little pieces.” That is Yevtushenko’s conclusion, it seems simple, but he has arrived at it through an extraordinary realization. “In Russia, I was called a dynamite poet. / Now, compared to dynamite, I am a mosquito. / None of us could be justified / if something like this is possible.” After all, it’s the death of little children he’s talking about. “But mourning crescent moon embraced a mourning cross.” A simple image, worthy of its subject.

Christopher Mulrooney

Shoot the Moon -- Poetry by John Yamrus (2007)

I was introduced to John Yamrus by Anita Wynn, both poets hailing from Pennsylvania. John's work is reminiscent of Gerald Locklin, Patricia Cherin and Errol Miller. There is an economy of words that flows with ease throughout his writing. Most of the poems are concerned with the everyday events that concern us...there is no forced angst or artificial emoting. John doesn't need to lead the reader around by the nose because he knows that they will get IT without being prompted. Perhaps it is because John and I are of the same generation, that he doesn't have to overstate the obvious to me. My favorites in this collection are Some Dumb Shit, Two Weeks Before Christmas, I'm Getting Mean and My Dog's Gone Deaf. This book is available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.