A Literary Journal of Critical Thinking
In the Samizdat Tradition of Writing against the Machine
A Forum for Examining the Dark Side of the Academic/Literary Industrial Complex

David S. Pointer (Murfreesboro, TN)

I write poetry because it is a wonderful way to communicate about every subject. Poetry can be sensitive and delicate as well as durable, and full of literary fire.  I am currently appalled by how those in power use it with an agenda while pretending to have no agenda.  Writing can show us how ordinary things are very profound along with the social, political, educational, or economic aspects of evolving art.  All of these are very worthy areas to work at as creative endeavors. 

An Ordinary Evening

with a PBS Poetry Special

Billy Collins

was interviewed

on tv again sharing

how he would have

entered the

exquisite

asschapel cheeks

of Emily Dickenson,

as elsewhere an

energetic bike

messenger unable

to see the episode

delivered a

portfolio of

extra pollution

coupons to the

wrong corporation,

and a caring cop

gave the guy a

ride retracing

his trail before

inserting amyl

nitrate capsules

in the nostril

of the nation's

insatiable

runny  nose.

State of the Art

Address

Throughout

history the

political  poet

has had a very

precise telling

like a long

case clock,

and made a big

target like a

Boston blockfront

dressing table,

only to be ignored

in contemporary

America  as if

he/she were a

Pre-K prozac

candidate

raging in

despair’s

dilapidated

car seat

of Chaos.


 

University Readings

Like a horrific

post-approved

prescription drug

with a long half-life,

the University

Poet laureates'

verse lingers

in the dorsal lateral

and orbital regions

of my prefrontal

cortex (and elsewhere)

as the decapitated

audiences around me

seem to jam on

polite afternoons

of silent international

auctions unfolding

everywhere.

Poetry

this art

attacks me

like a fleeing

felon making off

with my emotions,

and loan papers for

fifteen thousand tomorrows

and reestablishing the tranquility

of debtor nations caught under the

            nouns

                 of

                      the

                           nice

                           writers.’