Tom: I never once thought of him as an influence, and yet he was my main man from 1969-72, a kind of antidote to Rod McKuen. This is precisely why it's so hard to talk about "influence." Who knows what is percolating in one's head.
In 1969 my ratted-haired older sister use to lounge around her room chain-smoking Tareyton cigarettes drinking Olympia beer and listening to Rod McKuen records. The only thing worse than reading Rod McKuen is listening to Rod McKuen reading his poems.
Peter, curious to know if you've ever read Trout Fishing in America? Brautigan's deliberate irrationality, surreal imagery, and off-the-wall similes reminds me of many of your poems.
I do wonder how many of us "comic" prose poets were first inspired by The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and Mad Magazine. I know I have written my share of Fractured Fairy Tale poems--prose and verse.
Bukowksi often takes a beating from Academics, especially, understandably, women, but when he was good, he very good. What many of his detractors overlook is that he usually was also tough on himself, which made it easier to controversial.
No,. but I don't see how Buk could be a feminist. I like much of his work but he was an unapologetic caricature most of the time. It's hard to explain but when he was immersed in the poem itself, the poem could be very good, but the old "I'm a tough guy who likes to drink and fight and fuck (usually together) and that makes me cool" thing took over, I got bored very quickly.
Tom: I never once thought of him as an influence, and yet he was my main man from 1969-72, a kind of antidote to Rod McKuen. This is precisely why it's so hard to talk about "influence." Who knows what is percolating in one's head.
In 1969 my ratted-haired older sister use to lounge around her room chain-smoking Tareyton cigarettes drinking Olympia beer and listening to Rod McKuen records. The only thing worse than reading Rod McKuen is listening to Rod McKuen reading his poems.
Wow, that's like being strapped onto a cot and have someone inflict a drop of water on your forehead every twn seconds.
Peter, curious to know if you've ever read Trout Fishing in America? Brautigan's deliberate irrationality, surreal imagery, and off-the-wall similes reminds me of many of your poems.
I do wonder how many of us "comic" prose poets were first inspired by The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and Mad Magazine. I know I have written my share of Fractured Fairy Tale poems--prose and verse.
Thanks,
Sherman
That commentary is fascinating! Thanks.
Thanks, Syd. Have a good Thanksgiving. Been reading Donald Hall's octogenarian essays.
"But how to the find the right way to express my high/low sensibility?"
I am reminded of the self-immolation poetry of Charles Bukowski who
brought the fire out of the academy and into the streets where there
were few classical allusions. "I'd rather hear about a live American
bum than a dead Greek god," as he put it.
Can't we all agree that M.F.A. stands for "Master of Fine Affectations"?
Bukowksi often takes a beating from Academics, especially, understandably, women, but when he was good, he very good. What many of his detractors overlook is that he usually was also tough on himself, which made it easier to controversial.
I could argue that Bukowski was a feminist but
deeply doubt anyone would listen. Thanks for
the József intro. Yet another writer waiting
on the tarmac to read. Have a great Thanksgiving
holiday. By the way, did you ever write a poem
about Thanksgiving?
No,. but I don't see how Buk could be a feminist. I like much of his work but he was an unapologetic caricature most of the time. It's hard to explain but when he was immersed in the poem itself, the poem could be very good, but the old "I'm a tough guy who likes to drink and fight and fuck (usually together) and that makes me cool" thing took over, I got bored very quickly.
I think you're suggesting that his bard of the bars persona, a persona
that first got him recognition in the undergrounds ( Open City;
his column work: Notes of a Dirty Old Man ), would hijack a perfectly
non-persona poem and divert it back to the persona. Could be. I'd have
to read his later work with that thought in mind. Cheers!
No.