Day To Day With Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound, painting by Wyndham Lewis, 1938–39.

Ezra Pound is brilliant. We can all agree on that. I have been reading some interviews with him, people’s accounts of meeting him and of course gobbling up more of his work. (You can listen to him reading here.) But one thing that I noticed is that in most of his photos he looks either 'blown away,' stern or luminous. Which sparked me to write this. I would really love some feedback on this because I feel I am missing something if not a lot of things.

Day to Day with Ezra Pound

We sit on an interior park bench. A homeless mother is beside us, pleading with her crumbs to be attractive enough for doves. But there are forty pigeons. You teach me to stay as tranquil as linen, the even threads laid upon itself and calming one another.

You’re the center of modernism, she’s the trademark abuser, and I’m the abstract glass of religion. In mediation you say “We come back placed. Broad shouldered, bald men who smoke cigars return briefly as exhaust and vodka drinking moms are the air between coffee and the lid.”

You explain that you’re going to Italy to listen to Nico and smoke hardened cigarettes. A woman will walk across your bed wearing only your vest. You’ll smile, dazed. In a room that over looks a farm you keep a toothbrush, a book and socks.

You are amazed by everything. It was the bike paths and now it’s the birds being flounced by the updraft from the highway. But the contrasts are fluorescent, the flock recovers and shakes from a cloud like a dash of pepper, synchronized and settling onto a telephone wire, whispering something in French.

Settling one knee, you remove my shoe and study my feet to evaluate my steps – you say, “Jellyfish feet.” And I am offended. “You float. These blue marble veins are throughout. Baby toes like cantaloupes, they take you from the door in fruit salad sandals. What is your preference? Where are your photos? Have you ever seen anything? If reincarnation is exploration, dying is the imagine steam, you will return as blindness.”

___________________________________________

In other news...

The Broad Set Writing Collective has a reading coming up!

September 18th. 7:00pm @ Brickbat Books in Philadelphia. Address: 709 South Fourth Street.

Please come by. We are going to have free beer, a fresh magazine and after join us for surrealist writing games at the pub around the corner.

Also, the amazing people at PANK Magazine continue their remarkable…ness with their take on some 'awkward topics.' It's a good read, check it out!

Toa Lin's new book comes out soon. He was nice enough to send me some stickers. Take a peak at Tao's blog for more information on "Shoplifting From American Apparel."

Lastly, Skive Magazine 12 is out! Buy a copy or download the free verse at the Skive Website. Check out the great stuff inside and also my work pages 206 & 207. Audio coming soon.