Dear Bleaders!
It's been about six months since my last post – I've been super busy getting my two new books to press. They both came out last month and it's been very exciting – and sometimes a lot to handle. More on that soon.
Right now I want to introduce you to a wonderful young poet who I met when he was in the MFA Program at the New School, Tommy Pico. His poetry is great; he grew up on the rez and writes movingly about it; he's been a community builder in poetry, starting reading series, putting out a magazine, etc.
Pico has an app coming out in January with his poetry collection on it. I'll tell you more about that when it comes out. For now, here's a poem of his:
Inheritance
1. My mother was voted “best legs” in her senior high school yearbook, despite the fact that she was also student body president and editor in chief of the school paper. Only boys got superlatives like, “Most Likely to Succeed.”
2. Doctors say that Indians are predisposed to a lot of illnesses, like alcoholism and diabetes. At the clinic, patient history starts the first time you get sick. They ask me why don’t I eat, nearly commit me when I say because my great grandfather’s horses were stolen in 1890.
3. Myths aren't told to make things seem down to earth.
4. Thinking all the time vs Giving up (the butt).
5. Cigarette habit that kicks in around the third drink and the right lung.
6. Things that make me want to run: I) Seeing other people run. II) Eating a whole pizza. III) Everyone adoring the same person.
7. Upon being drafted into Vietnam, my father guided tanks through minefields in the jungle when he was very young. I have never not once walked in the wrong direction surfacing from the subway.
8. Waiting to be moved.
9. Waiting to be introduced.
10. Always wanting to raise my hand first.
11. My father's unfinished collection of poetry is called, "In the Days of Tall Cans and Short Hopes."
12. Songs to sing when the roommates are gone vs songs to sing at karaoke vs songs to listen to, pretending.
13. Collections: do they get better, or just bigger?
14. Devin at Blue Olive. James at Pine State. Barry at Cup. Angelo at Dave & Busters. Jean Baptiste at Point Ephemere. Eric at Pop In. Federico at Monster Ronsons. BigGuySF365 at Adam4Adam. Me at Gmail.
15. There must be a word for this in some romance language, for looking down at your legs and seeing mom; for looking down at your hands and seeing dad.
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Great, right? Alright, more soon. I've missed you all terribly and hope to now start blogging at you regularly again. As always, don't kill yourself and I shall return to encourage you again.
love,
Jennifer