Chapbook Reviews

Blues for Bird (12-part chapbook project about the life of jazz great Charlie Parker)
Martin Gray
Alpha Beat Press, 31 Waterloo St, New Hope, PA 18938

First of all, let me say, that only in academic circles have a seen someone prattle on for 12 books just trying to deliver one frigging poem! It's too much of a commitment for a hit-it- and-quit-it type like me!

Secondly—I hate to say it, ‘cause every "true" poet this side of the universe is going to think I'm a flake, but—these "poems" don't rhyme!! Worse is that they don't even seem to concern themselves much with the play of language at all! What's the world coming to when a girl can't either hear that a poem is trying to create an aural pattern, or that the poet is trying to create some kind of picture on the page with words?! I guess I'm not "sophisticated" enough to appreciate such a subtle attempt at poetry.

Martin, I'm sure you're a really nice guy and I can appreciate how much work this whole project must've been to you, but that's just it; I don't think that poetry is simply a hardy symbol of labor. I think it should involve some deliberate attempt at language play, at humor, at confession, at obtuseness—something deliberately languaged in a fashion that would lend itself well at creating a mood and wouldn't be mind being called "poetry." None of these books do that.

While I do think this collection is a very important tribute to the musician—it reflects a knowledge of Bird's history, including record reviews, live reviews and a strong familiarity with his music—I do think it's just that; a tribute and not necessarily a poem.

Why is all that important? It's important, because I can't recommend it. Its form didn't suit its presentation. And, finally, ‘cause, whatever it is, I just didn't dig it too much. [D]
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Groan: The Morose Poetry of Simeon Stylites
Simeon Stylites
Feh! Press, 200 E 10th St, #603, NY, NY 10003-7702

The introduction is a blast! It's done by some dude named Al Ackerman. He basically roasts Simeon by detailing his many phobias. It is pretty long. But even though is was lengthy and didn't have a graphic in sight, it was funny, intelligent, and, I'm almost sure, a pack of lies. Okay, so this was starting off well. I got worried, though, as I started in on Simeon's work. There weren't many rhymes and there were a lot of big words; so many so that often I wasn't getting the jokes, ‘cause I didn't understand what the fuck he was trying to say! I pressed on, however, and came up on "What Would Christmas Be Like if Father Christmas was a Cannibalistic Headhunter." Sounds like my kinda stuff—it's talkin' about food AND taking something that many find pretty sacred and turning it on its head! And then I wandered upon "Aiee!," a poem about zits. It's a very cute little rhymey thing. (I've included a few of these in this issue's All U Can Eat, so that you can appreciate his language play.)

Though he does get too highfalutin sometimes, his approach to his subject matter is fresh, as well as his choice of topic itself. I can see a twisted mind at work here (who has taken the time to share it creatively with the world) and, more than anything, that's what I like about his work. I highly recommend this. [A]
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Dirty Walls & Ivory Endings
Mark Senkus
Chiron Review Press, 702 N Prairie, St John, KS 675-76-1516 (www.geocities.com/soHo/Nook/1748/)

I hadn't realized how romantic a writer Mark is. Not romantic in the sense of sweeping a gal off her feet, but sad and wounded and in need of love. Or perhaps that's just the way the publishers of this new chapbook intended. Maybe they picked his most injured and disillusioned works to construct this text, leaving us gals crying in the aisle for him. Wanting to soothe his pain. Wanting to see him smile again. Whatever the ways or means used, this book is marvelous. I highly recommend it and have even sprinkled nicely crafted one-liners throughout the site. If you're yearning to feel the pain of a truly broken heart, this here is your book. [A+]