Three Poems with Audio Clips in the new issue of Canyon Voices

Since I had work published in the past few issues of Canyon Voices Literary Magazine, I wasn't planning to submit anything this time around. I've had some great times with their journal, staff, and launch readings...so I didn't want to wear out my welcome. But as the deadline drew near I got an email from their current lead poetry editor (thanks, Arthur Morales!) to ask if a particular poem that he once heard me read was available. Unfortunately, it was awaiting publication at another press, but I did submit another batch of poems.

A few weeks later, I was happy to learn that they were not sick of me (yet) and picked up three of my poems for their latest issue. This time you can even hear audio clips of me reading these poems into the abyss of cyberspace, by CLICKING THIS link for the POETRY section of Canyon Voices Issue 7.

A few quick notes on the poems:


DEDICATION spun out of a Julio Cortazar poem called "The Good Boy." He's been one of my favorite writers, mainly known for his short stories, but I once stumbled onto a collection of his poetry with a great cover photo of him with a cat and it made me very happy.

UNABLE TO SURFACE FOR AIR DURING SHARK WEEK spun out of cable television's tendency to be a muse and the pets that have taken over my own house.


CHEESE was shortened from a piece that I originally performed at an Encyclopedia Show about The Moon...making it obvious that I've never taken an astronomy class.


 

The Amazing Technicolor Dream Poem and the current issue of Canyon Voices

I used to avoid group writing prompts, because I cherish the option of trashing poems that no one else should ever see. I hated feeling obligated to share something that I would likely be completely embarrassed about, the following week. Might as well go on a drunk-texting binge.

But getting involved in some of the recent Encyclopedia Shows has given me a new appreciation for outside influence. I have had fun with some topics that I would have never chosen to explore.

Earlier this year, I was part of The Encyclopedia Show for "The Vivid Spectrum Of Color" and Scott Boras started assigning our topics. He gave other writers subjects like Blue, Red, and Mustard. When he gave me my assignment, I had no idea what to do with it and wondered if I was allowed to trade it away. But then I ended up with this piece called "The Amazing Technicolor Dream Poem" that ended up going over pretty well. So thanks for pushing me out of my comfort laze, Scott.


It even ended up in the current issue of Canyon Voices, so you can read it here.


Behind The Poem: 

The Canyon Voices editors also requested an audio file. Instead of making a horrible quality recording on my clunker of a computer, I went to my musician friend's studio to get a cleaner track. Forty-seven takes later, he was still unwilling to let go of his George Martin ambitions. Here's a video glimpse of our recording session:

I don't know if they plan to use that audio track, anymore.
If they don't, I will post it on this blog sometime in the future.