Star Wars Ghazal & Four Poets Eight Eyes Reading

Nathaniel G. Moore was enquiring if some writers were interested in submitting work for an anthology of Canadian Star Wars poetry. (The new post-Atwoodian interstellar "Survival" theme?) Somehow, he says, there doesn't seem to be much interest. We were chatting about expanding the range to include poems about other things (as if there could be anything beyond Star Wars.) I said we could have an anthology about hairlines and/or movies. He came up with the perfect title: Industrial Hairlines and Magic. I worked up a poem for his initial call which I post here.


DARK MATTER GHAZAL


in love with spacetime because
Princess Leia was in it

which makes me look fatter: space or time?
the atoms of things are not themselves hot

history is supernova
hairstyles of the fossil glow

sings of what is between things or not there at all
a handful of universe outside the hand

much is borderless
Chewbacca’s hairline for instance

used light to fight
the speed of darkness

Skywalker when there is no sky
Death Star when all stars die


*

My son Ryan and I attended a fantastic reading last night organized by Stuart Ross. "Four Poets Eight Eyes" featured David W. McFadden, Lillian Necakov, Richard Huttel, and Nicholas Power. All (old) friends of Stuart's, of each other, and, actually, of mine.

It was a lovely event at the Magpie in Toronto, and lots of literary types (also friends of mine) showed up. Steve Venright, Leigh Nash, Andrew Faulkner, Victor Coleman, Maria Erskine, Paul Vermeersch, Denis De Klerck, Dave's daughter (& fellow Hamiltonian) Jenny McFadden, to mention just a few.

Lillian read some new work and work from her recent Bone Broker(Mansfield). Her work is funny, dark, psychologically rich, surreal and 'well observed.' Truly brilliant.

McFadden read from his recent sonnet collection Be Calm, Honey(Mansfield). He was clearly enjoying himself and gave a great reading. These sonnets are self-deprecating, amazed at themselves for just being poems, filled with McFaddenesque observation, drolleries, and wisdom which you're not sure is wise, dopey, trivial, deep or all four.

Richard Huttel read an assortment of work. He's a captivating performer. His work combines insight, humour, everyman amazement and depth, and language stumbling over its own consciousness.

Nick Power read an assortment of work, including some recent work published by his Gesture Press. It was wonderful to hear him read. He's a beguiling, charming performer and his work is filled with quiet, bemused observation, some lovely and striking images, and a rich understanding of literary tradition.

All this and some good stout and then some eel and rice. And later tonight, we're off to Cuba. (Note to burglars: Large Dog. Relatives with big teeth, numerous eyes, and cell phones with the number 9-1 predialed and their fingers hovering over the last 1. Snakes. A moat. Week old dirty dishes. Vigilant neighbours armed with poison darts. Tax collectors. Small Home Alone-like children. Fleas, bed bugs, bad music on a loop.)