Diptychs + Triptychs is reviewed at Lit Pub

The Sentence is a Lonely Place,”Gary Lutz writes that the books he fell in love with were the ones “in which virtually every sentence had the force and feel of a climax, in which almost every sentence was a vivid extremity of language, an abruption, a definitive inquietude.” Robert Vaughn’s newest book, Diptychs + Triptychs + Lipsticks + Dipshits, which manages to pack thirty pieces in fifty-five pages, is a beautiful example of the kind of attention to detail that Gary Lutz admires.” Read the rest here:  The Lit Pub • Diptychs + Triptychs + Lipsticks + Dipshits Again, thanks Ilana and Molly, and everyone else at the Lit Pub!]]>

National Poetry Month: April 11-15

 short stories, and I am thrilled for Sara: Dock Street Press http://dockstreetpress.com/portfolio-item/doll-palace/Doll Palace And now, for National Poetry Month! On April 11, I read “Clouds” by  Barbara Ras. I was introduced to this poem at Esalen Institute last summer, and it prompted me to write a poem called “Hummingbirds,” which is in Addicts & Basements: Barbara Ras▶ Robert Vaughan reads “Clouds” by Barbara Ras – YouTube On April 13, I read The Dead Woman” by Pablo Neruda. This poem, in various forms of translations from its original Spanish, is included in the masterful movie “Truly, Madly, Deeply” which I saw with my best pal, Andrea, on a rainy Amsterdam afternoon. We had no idea what we were in for! ▶ Robert Vaughan reads “The Dead Woman” by Pablo Neruda – YouTube On April 14, I chose Amy King’s “The Woman of Zero.” Amy is multi-talented, and such a whimsical, deep, unusual writer. Such scope! Amy King\ Robert Vaughan reads “The Woman of Zero” by Amy King – YouTube On April 15, I read Indigo Moor’s Tap-Root from his quintessential book of the same name. I had the great fortune of meeting Indigo and hearing him read his stunning work at AWP Seattle: Taproot Have you gone to a reading lately? Read a poem on the train or subway? Flown someplace exotic with a surprising book that changed your outlook? If not, what are you waiting for?  ]]>

National Poetry Month: April 9 and 10

Robert Vaughan and Breathless | The Mockingbird Sings For National Poetry Month, on April 9th, I read “untitled” by Marilyn Hacker from this poetry collection, all sonnets: Marilyn Hacker   And here is the poem: ▶ Robert Vaughan reads “Untitled” by Marilyn Hacker – YouTube Also, on April 10th (today) I read “Lullaby” by W.H. Auden: ▶ Robert Vaughan reads “Lullaby” from W.H. Auden – YouTube Tonight I will be on Bud Smith’s Unknown Show on Blog Talk Radio, and other guests include Michael Dickes, Janice Lee and Cort Bledsoe. Call in: The Unknown Show with Bud Smith 04/10 by theliteraryunderground | Writing Podcasts Also, check out the Wednesday Roundup recap at Entropy: Wednesday Entropy Roundup | ENTROPY And if that’s not enough links, then I don’t know what to say. Have fun, be safe.]]>

National Poetry Month: Simon Perchik from Hands Collected

handscoll   Over the years, I’ve had numerous conversations with other poets, and more than often, Simon’s name is mentioned. His poems are staggering in volume, unique in voice and perspective, jarring, earthly devoted, and remarkably lovely. As a nod to his oeuvre, I constructed a poem, utilizing only the first lines of a Simon Perchik poem, including the title (also, a Perchik first line). Here is the entire poem: They were reaching for their mother’s breath Wherever I turn the air needs water and in the dark my pillow, abandoned stone, stone, stone, not a drop again, the sky rubbing against my legs all the pieces must be found, make this cup half ecstasy, half adrift With those hefty walls a bank even this tree :a stranglehold And the dead can’t wait, they crouch as if its stream would slow What a long way- they know this bridge as if before its crash (all words excerpted from Simon Perchik’s Hands Collected: The Books of Poems (1949-1999) (only first lines used to construct entire poem, including title) And today, April 8th, I read Simon Perchik for National Poetry Month: Robert Vaughan reads Simon Perchik’s poem, * from Hands Collected – YouTube When is the last time you took a train? Had an unexpected picnic? Read a poem that took your breath away?        ]]>

National Poetry Month: April 6 & 7

Unknown I read the title poem, which I find so playful, humane, and deep simultaneously: ▶ Robert Vaughan reads “Sun Bear” by Matthew Zapruder – YouTube On April 7 (today), I read Natasha Tretheway’s “At Dusk” by Natasha Tretheway. This poem is in her collection called Native Guard: Unknown-1 ▶ Robert Vaughan reads “At Dusk” by Natasha Tretheway – YouTube Do you ever wonder who you are calling home? Do you ever take the time to be called? If so, to whom? How so?  ]]>

National Poetry Month video: "Woman in a Bar" by Dorianne Laux

Red Dragonfly Press: THE BOOK OF WOMEN by Dorianne Laux lg_laux_cover-1326776205   Dorianne, for those who don’t know her, is a wizard! She is simply one of the best poets I know, and I consider myself so fortunate, my life has transformed as a result of every interaction we’ve had. Happy Poetry Month to you, DL, and may you always feel loved. Here, then, is “Woman in a Bar” and enjoy: Robert Vaughan reads “Woman in a Bar” by Dorianne Laux – YouTube Have you ever been in a bar? How about Fozzie’s? Boy Bar? King Tut’s Wah-Wah Hut? When is the last time you sat in a bar, and were completely captivated by someone else? What happened?  ]]>

Kirkus Review of Addicts & Basements

Best cover shot

 
It feels surreal, how much this Kirkus Reviews surprises me. In a new review, posted yesterday, Kirkus opens with: “A fast-moving fusion of micro-fiction and free verse that peers into the places where people keep things most deeply hidden.” And Kirkus wraps up their insightful review with this: “A fascinating study of human attachment and loss.” The entire review is here: ADDICTS & BASEMENTS by Robert Vaughan | Kirkus I am blown away. Humbled. Thank you, Kirkus Reviews, for this wonderful feeling.]]>

National Poetry Month: April 3

The Frog.” Hopefully you will enjoy it! I love and miss you, Andrea and David! Today, for National Poetry Month, I am going to read Rigoberto Gonzalez’s “The Strangers Who Find Me in the Woods.” (Perhaps this is why those latino towns in California came to mind?) Enjoy! ▶ Robert Vaughan reads “The Stranger Who Finds Me in the Woods” by Rigoberto Gonzalez – YouTube Do you like getting lost in the woods? What did you find last time? Was Hansel or Gretl with you? Did you come across a wicked witch?    ]]>

National Poetry Month: April 1-3, 2014

images   Russell’s poetry is dark, smart and infused with just the right amount of humor. Here is more about the collection: Eternal Patrol: Russell Dillon: 9780988228733: Amazon.com: Books And here is my reading of “Eternal Patrol: Robert Vaughan reads Russell Dillon’s “Eternal Patrol” – YouTube Yesterday, April 2nd, I also read the title poem from Laura Kasischke’s “Space, In Chains,” which is a phenomenal poetry collection and won the National Book Critics Circle Award: books   “Kasischke’s intelligence is most apparent in her syntactic control and pace, the way she gauges just when to make free verse speed up, or stop short, or slow down.”—The New York Times Book Review Here is my reading of “Space, in Chains:” Robert Vaughan reads “Space, In Chains,” from Laura Kasischke – YouTube What will I read today? More importantly, what will YOU read today? A subway poem? A billboard poem? Maybe it’s a conversation you have with a friend about poetry? I chatted on Facebook with Brian Alan Ellis the other day about Kenneth Patchen (among many other poets). Imagine how different our world would be if we spoke more about poetry than guns? If we read infinitely more poems than listen to stories that contain violence?

 
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