A collection of poetic “orphans.” Poems that had fallen by the wayside because they didn’t seem to be anything that anyone would want to have around (hence the “orphan”).
The poetry in this collection hopscotches around encompassing the years 1993 to 2016. It represents the forgotten poems from four previous collections: Fire and Rain (Volumes 1 & 2), E/OR and the expurgated version, Living Among the Mangled.
Remarkably, many of the poems are still relevant to the concerns that many of us have today. . . perhaps proving that RD is a savvy visionary or (more likely) that the story doesn’t change, only the characters do.
“I was working as a handyman/laborer/jack-of-all-trades and had done so for thirty years (my main income). I did okay, but it was a smallish life. I had been sober for almost 20 years – that was something I was proud of! Then in 2004, something broke inside me…I began drinking again (like a fish!), as if I was trying to undo my best behavior by releasing my demons. It’s not remarkable, many have experienced it. I spun effortlessly out of control for four more years, until late in 2008 when I entered the hospital with a septic ulcer on the heel of my right foot. This was to be the beginning of my immersion into the health care machine. When they told me I was diabetic, I quit drinking (but really, I just substituted the drug of alcohol for the many drugs required to maintain a diabetic. I was 57 years old. . .” — RD Armstrong
We here at Lummox Press hope that you will find the contents of this book worthy of your time. Read a sampling of poems here.
COMMENTS ABOUT RD —
RD Armstrong is an unsung local treasure —Bondo Wyszpolski, Easy Reader newspaper
I’m finding Orphaned Words very deep company…especially because the milieu(s) we come from are so different, and it’s such a damn privilege to be allowed inside yours through your books. So I’m not gobbling it; I’m savoring…going back to read whole sections again before going on. Quite moved by your candor and realness and sharing so much of yourself and what moves/unnerves you, with your readers. Sometimes people from different backgrounds are not always comfortable with each other…so the chance to get close through reading your books is one of the things I most cherish about poetry and life — Jane Lipman, poet
Hey got the books today in the mail (yours, Wannberg’s) — damn. The books are worth twice the price. I’ve just been dipping through but am floored and opened and amazed and so happy I have so much more to learn and more to learn it from — Mike Mahoney, poet
RD is one of my favorite poets. He’s the kind of writer who hasn’t been unduly influenced by his influences…. all muscle and absolutely fat-free. As long as he contributes to Flash!Point, I’ll publish him. When I’m reading RD’s work, I can turn off my bullshit meter — Frances LeMoine, editor/publisher
