Beat Generation, Art & Literary Community News

Saxophonist George Brooks & Poet Michael McClure Premiere Newly Commissioned Jazz-Poetry Work, "Double Moiré" Sunday May 3, 4:30pm at the Jazzschool 2087 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94704 510-845-5373 admission $15.00 Scott Amendola - Drums Chris Lopes – Bass Light environment by Alessandro Moruzzi The premiere of "Double Moiré" has been made possible by a grant from the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the American Composers Forum.

HEARTH: New & Selected Poems By Simon Pettet Talisman House, Publishers ISBN: 1-58498-061-3, $17.95 "The complete works — so far — of contemporary American and British poetry's most meticulous craftsperson. We dig the purity, dogged love, and artistic devotion of this rare personage. A highly recommended volume." —Alice Notley "In these mostly unabashedly lyrical poems Simon Pettet flaunts his proud independence of current poetic fashions, like a dragonfly shimmering and hovering." —Gerrit Lansing "'Heart' and 'Earth,' the obvious scenery as Simon's I-liner trips us through the decades, sometimes blind-embossing a snapshot, sometimes looking at himself observing it, sometimes spattering it.with apposite allusion. Take the ride and enjoy the scene." —Tom Raworth "The poems of Simon Pettet are placed on continual high alert in a rush of subtle coloring. The shadings match those of affectionate curiosity and cut-through street wisdom. Pettet sees through the moment to the words that restore the moment's contours." —Bill Berkson "I highly recommend Simon Pettet's new collected, Hearth.His poetry is always insightful, ardent, playful, right on the spot, and ahead of the current." —Joanne Kyger Simon Pettet's many books include his Selected Poems and More Winnowed Fragments, both published by Talisman. He edited The Selected Art Writings of James Schuyler and collaborated with Duncan Hannah on Abundant Treasures and with Rudy Burckhardt on Conversations About Everything and Talking Pictures. British by birth, he lives in New York City. Hearth is distributed by Small Press Distribution and Greenfield Distribution, Inc. Hearth may also be purchased online at Amazon.com.

Housecat Kung Fu: Strange Poems For Wild Children By Geoffrey Gatza Geoffrey Gatza's poetry for children has been one of the greatest secrets in contemporary poetry. Meritage Press is delighted to share this secret by releasing Gatza's inaugural book of poetry for children (of all ages): Housecat Kung Fu. To celebrate Gatza's historic release, Meritage Press is pleased to announce a RELEASE SPECIAL. For orders received through February 28, 2009, the book will be available at a 25% discount for $12.00. There will be free shipping as well to U.S. residents. (If you're based outside of the U.S., please email Meritage Press for the logistics.) You can order by sending a check made out to "Meritage Press" to: Eileen Tabios Publisher, Meritage Press 256 North Fork Crystal Springs Rd. St. Helena, CA 94574 Gatza is the author of seven other books of poetry; his Not So Fast Robespierre and Kenmore: Poem Unlimited are available from Menendez Publishing. He is also the editor and publisher of BlazeVOX [books]. Gatza lives in Kenmore, New York. More information about him is available at GeoffreyGatza.com and BlazeVOX.org . Meritage Press is pleased to share an excerpt from one of the many delightful poems in Housecat Kung Fu -- this is from "Lorikeet Landing": Last Wednesday I overheard a rainbow colored bird say wouldn't you bring to me a listening booth and a swimming tree a comfy ocean chair and some sand from Waikiki a wisdom tooth and a cup of crystal tea a mystical flying mare and a large screen TV or maybe a common pea and a castle floating in air   Buy Housecat Kung Fu: Strange Poems for Wild Children at Amazon.com ISBN: 978-0-9794119-6-0 Price: U.S. $16.00

Kenmore: Poem Unlimited by Geoffrey Gatza The book, Kenmore: Poem Unlimited by Geoffrey Gatza has just been published and is available for sale on Amazon ($16). You can read a sample on Geoffrey Gatza's website: www.geoffreygatza.com/Kenmore While you're there you'll also find FREE works that go along with the Kenmore book, as well as an artist's statement which explains the whole installation. Visit the book's Amazon page to order: Kenmore: Poem Unlimited

First Baby Poems by Anne Waldman with collages by George Schneeman BlazeVox has just brought out a new edition of Anne Waldman's long out-of-print First Baby Poems. You can learn more about the book and Anne Waldman and read some excerpts from the book on BlazeVox's website: First Baby Poems. With her warm subtle fleshy FIRST BABY POEMS Waldman creates an infant power that did not exist before in her words. These poems are complex joyful bioalchemy. —Michael McClure Whenever my friends give birth, I always send them the words of William Blake's "Infant Joy" ("What shall I call thee?"/'I happy am,/Joy is my name.'/Sweet joy befall thee!") and a xeroxed copy of Anne Waldman's FIRST BABY POEMS - long unavailable and now happily reprinted - for their delectation: twenty-nine joyful, lucent poems in all manner of styles and song. It is no matter of a "hard sell" to suggest that FIRST BABY POEMS is a "perfect gift" for those who are birthing and those who are busy being born. Sweet joy befall them. —Jonathan Cott Anne Waldman glows even in the throes of morning sickness at the Buddhist chateau. The mind empties as the belly expands, but the mind doesn't clear without a detailed expression of what it is letting go of, and the body doesn't fill without a rich chronicle of sensation. She takes us all the way to term and then, the baby gets the pantoums. What a retreat she takes us on. What a euphonic spell of sleep-deprived wonder she casts. —C.D. Wright You can read a sample and purchase on BlazeVox's website. First Baby Poems can also be bought at Amazon.com.

The Reagan Psalms by A. D. Winans Now Available Gold Package: This package is limited to a Hundred Numbered CDs (which includes a poetry booklet with several poems by Winans) presented in an attractive black Presentation Case. $29.99 Silver Package: CDs available in shrink-wrapped jewel cases without the poetry booklet. Gift packaging available in several styles for the Holidays. Inquire on the gift-wrapping. $19.99 To Order: Make check payable to Sound Streettracks. Send to: Sound Streettracks 2115 Granberry Rd. DeRidder, LA 70634 or use PayPal, by visiting this page The Reagan Psalms audio CD is from Winan's book, The Reagan Psalms (now out of print), which was published in 1984 by Integrity Times Press. The book was a scathing indictment against Reaganomics and the Ronald Reagan Administration. The book (A small piece of history) received considerable media attention, including comments from U.S. Senators, Journalists, and other well-known personalities. Below is a small sample of comments: "Thank you so much for sending me The Reagan Psalms. I found it most interesting, not only because of the unique format, but because of your insights on President Reagan." The late Arthur Hoppe, Pulitzer Prize winning syndicated columnist "I like your stuff (The Reagan Psalms) very much. It's a fine tribute to the pronunciations of the White House Toby." Studs Terkel "Thank you for sharing with me, The Reagan Psalms. I'm impressed with how thoroughly you've gone about indicting Reaganomics — and you have some wonderfully juxtaposed quotes." The late U.S. Senator, Alan Cranston "I appreciate your bringing this valuable book to my attention." Edward M. Kennedy, U. S. Senator "Thanks for sending me your book, The Reagan Psalms, and it's all so true. We have a writer friend staying with us and I will show him your book. I know he will thoroughly agree with your philosophy and enjoy your poetic talent." Joan Baez, Sr.

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