JEAN VENGUA-- author of PRAU -- invites you to:
10/17/2009 Reading
with Neela Banerjee, Luis Francia, Jean Vengua, and other TBA.
2 pm @ the Bayanihan Community Center (Mission @ 6th)
San Francisco
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
SELECTED MERITAGE PRESS PROJECTS
(listed in reverse chronological order of publication date)
HOUSECAT KUNG FU by Geoffrey Gatza (2009)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
Geckos with Bristles by Kevin Killian at Amazon Reviews, May 21, 2009
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12 by Ruth Lepson
*****
“TINY BOOKS” FUNDRAISER FOR HEIFER INTERNATIONAL (2007-ongoing)
Meritage Press Link Forthcoming
Other information HERE on the Tiny Books Series (to date):
RANDION SCREPTS by Jukka-Pekka Kervinen (2008)
(B)ITS by Joel Chace (2008)
from THE TRADITION by Juliana Spahr (2008)
SOME HAY by Lars Palm (2007)
SPEAK WHICH: HAY(NA)KU POEMS by Jill Jones (2007)
“…AND THEN THE WIND DID BLOW: JAINAKU POEMS by Ernesto Priego (2007)
STEPS: A NOTEBOOK by Tom Beckett (2007)
ALL ALONE AGAIN by Dan Waber (2007)
Reviews & Engagements:
On b(its) by Joel Chace by Ruth Lepson, Galatea Resurrects No. 12
On Steps: A Notebook by Tom Beckett at Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Ernesto Priego
At dbqp: visualizing poetics, Feb. 15, 2008 by Geof Huth
At Poetry Scorecard, July 31, 2007 by Crg Hill
At Faux Press by Jack Kimball
On from THE TRANSFORMATION by Juliana Spahr, at Galatea Resurrects No. 10 by Jim McCrary
*****
PELICAN DREAMING: POEMS 1959-2008 by Mark Young, Selected and with an Introduction by Thomas Fink
Meritage Press Link HERE
Order through Meritage Press' Lulu Account at: http://www.lulu.com/content/1955266
Reviews & Engagements:
At JACKET Magazine 36, 2008 by Nicholas Manning
At Stoning the Devil, Jan. 7, 2009 by Adam Fieled
At Slim Windows, Sept. 10, 2008, by Tom Beckett
At Fait Accompli Blog, Sept. 10, 2008 by Nick Piombino
*****
THE HAY(NA)KU ANTHOLOGY, VOL. II, Co-Eds. Jean Vengua & Mark Young (2008, co-published with xPress(ed), Finland)
Meritage Press Link HERE
Other information about the anthology HERE (Hay(na)ku Blog).
Reviews & Engagements:
At Arroyo Chamisa, May 28, 2008, by Alex Gildzen
At Blind Chatelaine's Poetics, Jan. 28, 2009, by John Olson
*****
DISAPPOINTED PSALMS, poetry by Brian Clements (2008)
Meritage Press Link HERE
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at Chicago Postmodern Poetry
*****
PRAU, poetry by Jean Vengua (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At New Mystics, Jan. 30, 2009, by Joey Madia
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Brett Duchon
At Galatea Resurrects No. 9 by John Bloomberg-Rissman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 10 by Leny M. Strobel
At Philippine News by Allen Gaborro
A review by Joan Zimmerman
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, Jan. 1, 2006
*****
STAGE PRESENCE: CONVERSATIONS WITH FILIPINO-AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTISTS, Ed. Theodore S. Gonzalves (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Our Own Voice, February 2008 by Laura Huggins
At Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 7, 2008 by Ben Pimentel, Jr.
At International Examiner, 2008 by Eydie Detera
At San Francisco Chronicle, February 27, 2008: "Stage Presence - New book on Fil-Am artists," Pinoy Pod (podcast)
At The Filipino Express, 2008, "Celebrating the Printed Word: Young Authors Hosted at Consulate
At Philippine News, May 2008 by Allen Gaborro
*****
COMPLICATIONS, poetry by Garrett Caples (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12, May 2009, a reprinted review by Talisman by John Olson
At Rain Taxi, Spring 2008 by Kevin Carollo
At Verse Magazine, April 22, 2008 by Brian Strang
At the Village Voice, April 22, 2008 by Alan Gilbert
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Brett Duchon
*****
FRAGILE REPLACEMENTS, poetry by William Allegrezza (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12 by Tom Hibbard
At Bookslut by Gina Myers, July 2008
At Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Thomas Fink
An interview at 12 or 20 questions, Jan. 14, 2008
*****
DAYS POEM, VOLS. 1 & 2, poetry by Allen Bramhall (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 9 by Anny Ballardini
At Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Jeff Harrison
An Ongoing Interview at Antic View (3-plus years now) with Jeff Harrison
*****
KALI’S BLADE, poetry (with kali martial arts poetics) by Michelle Bautista (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE. Kindle Edition (for a mere $0.99!) HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12 by Jean Vengua
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Katherine Levy
At Galatea Resurrects No. 7 by Julie R. Enszer
At Galatea Resurrects No. 5 by William Allegrezza
At INN OTHER WORDS, Nov. 8, 2007, by Barbara Jane Reyes
*****
DERIVE, poetry with visual art collaboration by Bruna Mori & Matthew Kinney (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At HOW2, Vol. 3, Issue 2, Summer 2008, "Ecopoetics: Drawing on Calfskin Vellum by Jane Sprague"
At Otoliths 4, Feb. 1, 2007, by Thomas Fink
At Rain Taxi by Craig Perez
At Chicago Postmodern Poetry
At Amy King's Alias, March 23, 2008, by Amy King
At L.A. Lit
At Good Reads by Oscar Bermeo
At INN OTHER WORDS, Nov. 8, 2007, by Barbara Jane Reyes
*****
UNPROTECTED TEXTS: SELECTED POEMS (1978-2006) by Tom Beckett (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Boog City, 2008, by John Mercuri Dooley
At dbqp: visualizing poetics, Oct. 18, 2006, by Geof Huth
At Jacket Magazine 33, July 2007 by Carlos Hiraldo
At Jacket Magazine 34,October 2007, "The Poetry of Questions" by Thomas Fink
At Jacket Magazine 25, February 2004, Conversation with Richard Lopez
A reading report at dbqp: visualizing poetics, Nov. 5, 2007 by Geof Huth
At Shanna Compton's Blog, Nov. 27, 2006
At Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Ernesto Priego
At Galatea Resurrects No. 5 by John Bloomberg-Rissman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Nicholas Manning
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Fionna Doney Simmonds
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Beatriz Tabios
At Pantaloons Blog, Nov. 8, 2007 by Jack Kimball
*****
NOT EVEN DOGS, poetry & first single-author hay(na)ku collection by Ernesto Priego (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, January 2007
At New Mystics Review, June 23, 2009 by Joey Madia
At Word For/Word #11, Winter 2007 by Thomas Fink
At Galatea Resurrects No. 7 by John Bloomberg-Rissman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 5 by Mario Mireles
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Leny M. Strobel
At Kathang-Pinay Blog by Leny M. Strobel
At Galatea Resurrects No. 3 by Allen Bramhall
*****
THE FIRST HAY(NA)KU ANTHOLOGY, Co-Eds. Jean Vengua & Mark Young (2005, co-published with xPress(ed), Finland)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Other information about the anthology HERE (Hay(na)ku Blog).
Reviews & Engagements:
At Poetry Form, an anthology review by Joan Zimmerman
At Poetry Form, an interview of anthology editor Jean Vengua by Joan Zimmerman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Yvonne Hortillo
At Listen & Be Heard, Jan. 27, 2006 by Annabelle Udo
An interview with Jean Vengua at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, Jan. 1, 2006
*****
THE OBEDIENT DOOR, poetry by Sean Tumoana Finney with reproductions of original drawings by Ward Schumaker (2005)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Fionna Doney Simmonds
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Laurel Johnson
*****
PINOY POETICS: A COLLECTION OF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL ESSAYS ON FILIPINO AND FILIPINO-AMERICAN POETICS, Ed. Nick Carbo (2004)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Moria Poetry by Veronica Montes
At Galatea Resurrects No. 2 by Rochita Loenen-Ruiz
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Abigail Licad
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
At Philippine Star, Manila, 2004 by Juaniyo Arcellana
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Aileen Ibardaloza
An interview with Pinoy Poetics editor Nick Carbo at El-Ghibli.org-Letteratura della migrazione by Elisabetta Marino
*****
THE ORACULAR SONNETS, poetry collaboration by Mark Young & Jukka-Pekka Kervinen (2004)
Free Download at Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, Jan. 23, 2006
An interview with Jukka-Pekka Kervinen at An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, May 10, 2005
*****
[WAYS], poetry with visual art collaboration by Barry Schwabsky and Hong Seung-Hye (2004, co-published with Artsonje Center, Seoul)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 2 by Ernesto Priego
An interview at Here Comes Everybody
An interview at P.F.S. Post
*****
OPERA: POEMS 1981-2002 by Barry Schwabsky (2003)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, May 6, 2007
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Fionna Doney Simmonds
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Michelle Bautista
At Galatea Resurrects No. 2 by Laurel Johnson
An interview at Here Comes Everybody
An interview at P.F.S. Post
*****
MUSEUM OF ABSENCES, poetry by Luis H. Francia (2003, co-published with the University of the Philippines Press, Manila)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Monna Wong
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Rhett Pascual
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Yvonne Hortillo
*****
ER, UM, poetry with drawings by Garrett Caples and Hu Xin (2002,out-of-print)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
*****
100 MORE JOKES FROM THE BOOK OF THE DEAD, etchings-based collaboration by John Yau and Archie Rand (2001)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 9 by Brian Clements
At Columbia News, “Archie Rand’s Collaboration with Poets” by Suzanne Trimel
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
*****
“COLD WATER FLAT”, a signed etching in a numbered edition of 37 by John Yau and Archie Rand (2001)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Columbia News, “Archie Rand’s Collaboration with Poets” by Suzanne Trimel
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
HOUSECAT KUNG FU by Geoffrey Gatza (2009)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
Geckos with Bristles by Kevin Killian at Amazon Reviews, May 21, 2009
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12 by Ruth Lepson
*****
“TINY BOOKS” FUNDRAISER FOR HEIFER INTERNATIONAL (2007-ongoing)
Meritage Press Link Forthcoming
Other information HERE on the Tiny Books Series (to date):
RANDION SCREPTS by Jukka-Pekka Kervinen (2008)
(B)ITS by Joel Chace (2008)
from THE TRADITION by Juliana Spahr (2008)
SOME HAY by Lars Palm (2007)
SPEAK WHICH: HAY(NA)KU POEMS by Jill Jones (2007)
“…AND THEN THE WIND DID BLOW: JAINAKU POEMS by Ernesto Priego (2007)
STEPS: A NOTEBOOK by Tom Beckett (2007)
ALL ALONE AGAIN by Dan Waber (2007)
Reviews & Engagements:
On b(its) by Joel Chace by Ruth Lepson, Galatea Resurrects No. 12
On Steps: A Notebook by Tom Beckett at Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Ernesto Priego
At dbqp: visualizing poetics, Feb. 15, 2008 by Geof Huth
At Poetry Scorecard, July 31, 2007 by Crg Hill
At Faux Press by Jack Kimball
On from THE TRANSFORMATION by Juliana Spahr, at Galatea Resurrects No. 10 by Jim McCrary
*****
PELICAN DREAMING: POEMS 1959-2008 by Mark Young, Selected and with an Introduction by Thomas Fink
Meritage Press Link HERE
Order through Meritage Press' Lulu Account at: http://www.lulu.com/content/1955266
Reviews & Engagements:
At JACKET Magazine 36, 2008 by Nicholas Manning
At Stoning the Devil, Jan. 7, 2009 by Adam Fieled
At Slim Windows, Sept. 10, 2008, by Tom Beckett
At Fait Accompli Blog, Sept. 10, 2008 by Nick Piombino
*****
THE HAY(NA)KU ANTHOLOGY, VOL. II, Co-Eds. Jean Vengua & Mark Young (2008, co-published with xPress(ed), Finland)
Meritage Press Link HERE
Other information about the anthology HERE (Hay(na)ku Blog).
Reviews & Engagements:
At Arroyo Chamisa, May 28, 2008, by Alex Gildzen
At Blind Chatelaine's Poetics, Jan. 28, 2009, by John Olson
*****
DISAPPOINTED PSALMS, poetry by Brian Clements (2008)
Meritage Press Link HERE
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at Chicago Postmodern Poetry
*****
PRAU, poetry by Jean Vengua (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At New Mystics, Jan. 30, 2009, by Joey Madia
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Brett Duchon
At Galatea Resurrects No. 9 by John Bloomberg-Rissman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 10 by Leny M. Strobel
At Philippine News by Allen Gaborro
A review by Joan Zimmerman
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, Jan. 1, 2006
*****
STAGE PRESENCE: CONVERSATIONS WITH FILIPINO-AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTISTS, Ed. Theodore S. Gonzalves (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Our Own Voice, February 2008 by Laura Huggins
At Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 7, 2008 by Ben Pimentel, Jr.
At International Examiner, 2008 by Eydie Detera
At San Francisco Chronicle, February 27, 2008: "Stage Presence - New book on Fil-Am artists," Pinoy Pod (podcast)
At The Filipino Express, 2008, "Celebrating the Printed Word: Young Authors Hosted at Consulate
At Philippine News, May 2008 by Allen Gaborro
*****
COMPLICATIONS, poetry by Garrett Caples (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12, May 2009, a reprinted review by Talisman by John Olson
At Rain Taxi, Spring 2008 by Kevin Carollo
At Verse Magazine, April 22, 2008 by Brian Strang
At the Village Voice, April 22, 2008 by Alan Gilbert
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Brett Duchon
*****
FRAGILE REPLACEMENTS, poetry by William Allegrezza (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12 by Tom Hibbard
At Bookslut by Gina Myers, July 2008
At Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Thomas Fink
An interview at 12 or 20 questions, Jan. 14, 2008
*****
DAYS POEM, VOLS. 1 & 2, poetry by Allen Bramhall (2007)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 9 by Anny Ballardini
At Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Jeff Harrison
An Ongoing Interview at Antic View (3-plus years now) with Jeff Harrison
*****
KALI’S BLADE, poetry (with kali martial arts poetics) by Michelle Bautista (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE. Kindle Edition (for a mere $0.99!) HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 12 by Jean Vengua
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Katherine Levy
At Galatea Resurrects No. 7 by Julie R. Enszer
At Galatea Resurrects No. 5 by William Allegrezza
At INN OTHER WORDS, Nov. 8, 2007, by Barbara Jane Reyes
*****
DERIVE, poetry with visual art collaboration by Bruna Mori & Matthew Kinney (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At HOW2, Vol. 3, Issue 2, Summer 2008, "Ecopoetics: Drawing on Calfskin Vellum by Jane Sprague"
At Otoliths 4, Feb. 1, 2007, by Thomas Fink
At Rain Taxi by Craig Perez
At Chicago Postmodern Poetry
At Amy King's Alias, March 23, 2008, by Amy King
At L.A. Lit
At Good Reads by Oscar Bermeo
At INN OTHER WORDS, Nov. 8, 2007, by Barbara Jane Reyes
*****
UNPROTECTED TEXTS: SELECTED POEMS (1978-2006) by Tom Beckett (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Boog City, 2008, by John Mercuri Dooley
At dbqp: visualizing poetics, Oct. 18, 2006, by Geof Huth
At Jacket Magazine 33, July 2007 by Carlos Hiraldo
At Jacket Magazine 34,October 2007, "The Poetry of Questions" by Thomas Fink
At Jacket Magazine 25, February 2004, Conversation with Richard Lopez
A reading report at dbqp: visualizing poetics, Nov. 5, 2007 by Geof Huth
At Shanna Compton's Blog, Nov. 27, 2006
At Galatea Resurrects No. 8 by Ernesto Priego
At Galatea Resurrects No. 5 by John Bloomberg-Rissman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Nicholas Manning
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Fionna Doney Simmonds
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Beatriz Tabios
At Pantaloons Blog, Nov. 8, 2007 by Jack Kimball
*****
NOT EVEN DOGS, poetry & first single-author hay(na)ku collection by Ernesto Priego (2006)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, January 2007
At New Mystics Review, June 23, 2009 by Joey Madia
At Word For/Word #11, Winter 2007 by Thomas Fink
At Galatea Resurrects No. 7 by John Bloomberg-Rissman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 5 by Mario Mireles
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Leny M. Strobel
At Kathang-Pinay Blog by Leny M. Strobel
At Galatea Resurrects No. 3 by Allen Bramhall
*****
THE FIRST HAY(NA)KU ANTHOLOGY, Co-Eds. Jean Vengua & Mark Young (2005, co-published with xPress(ed), Finland)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Other information about the anthology HERE (Hay(na)ku Blog).
Reviews & Engagements:
At Poetry Form, an anthology review by Joan Zimmerman
At Poetry Form, an interview of anthology editor Jean Vengua by Joan Zimmerman
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Yvonne Hortillo
At Listen & Be Heard, Jan. 27, 2006 by Annabelle Udo
An interview with Jean Vengua at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, Jan. 1, 2006
*****
THE OBEDIENT DOOR, poetry by Sean Tumoana Finney with reproductions of original drawings by Ward Schumaker (2005)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Fionna Doney Simmonds
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Laurel Johnson
*****
PINOY POETICS: A COLLECTION OF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL ESSAYS ON FILIPINO AND FILIPINO-AMERICAN POETICS, Ed. Nick Carbo (2004)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Moria Poetry by Veronica Montes
At Galatea Resurrects No. 2 by Rochita Loenen-Ruiz
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Abigail Licad
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
At Philippine Star, Manila, 2004 by Juaniyo Arcellana
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Aileen Ibardaloza
An interview with Pinoy Poetics editor Nick Carbo at El-Ghibli.org-Letteratura della migrazione by Elisabetta Marino
*****
THE ORACULAR SONNETS, poetry collaboration by Mark Young & Jukka-Pekka Kervinen (2004)
Free Download at Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, Jan. 23, 2006
An interview with Jukka-Pekka Kervinen at An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, May 10, 2005
*****
[WAYS], poetry with visual art collaboration by Barry Schwabsky and Hong Seung-Hye (2004, co-published with Artsonje Center, Seoul)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 2 by Ernesto Priego
An interview at Here Comes Everybody
An interview at P.F.S. Post
*****
OPERA: POEMS 1981-2002 by Barry Schwabsky (2003)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
An interview at E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E-V-A-L-U-E-S, May 6, 2007
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Fionna Doney Simmonds
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Michelle Bautista
At Galatea Resurrects No. 2 by Laurel Johnson
An interview at Here Comes Everybody
An interview at P.F.S. Post
*****
MUSEUM OF ABSENCES, poetry by Luis H. Francia (2003, co-published with the University of the Philippines Press, Manila)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 11 by Monna Wong
At Galatea Resurrects No. 4 by Rhett Pascual
At Galatea Resurrects No. 1 by Yvonne Hortillo
*****
ER, UM, poetry with drawings by Garrett Caples and Hu Xin (2002,out-of-print)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
*****
100 MORE JOKES FROM THE BOOK OF THE DEAD, etchings-based collaboration by John Yau and Archie Rand (2001)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Galatea Resurrects No. 9 by Brian Clements
At Columbia News, “Archie Rand’s Collaboration with Poets” by Suzanne Trimel
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
*****
“COLD WATER FLAT”, a signed etching in a numbered edition of 37 by John Yau and Archie Rand (2001)
Meritage Press Link HERE.
Reviews & Engagements:
At Columbia News, “Archie Rand’s Collaboration with Poets” by Suzanne Trimel
At Boog City, 2003 by Jane Sprague
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
2008 WINNER OF MERITAGE PRESS ANNUAL HOLIDAY FILIPINO POETRY CONTEST CONTEST
Letras y Figuras
By Rodrigo V. Dela Peña Jr.
Their names are a kind of narrative
though imagined, the way history
unfolds
before the page.
Before the canvas the letters
shape the scenes—
fin de siècle
settings and measured gesturings.
*
JOSE FERCED
Y TEMPRADO, BALVINO MAURICIO…
Who is to say
the dead
tell no stories? In the afterlife
they long to be
and be remembered.
Who can tell if the dead make
up lies?
*
T is a man
with a sugarcane upon his shoulders,
C a languid mother
carrying a baby.
To be burdened
by one thing
or another, a lifetime's
occupation—
the loop of P a weathered face, wrinkled
as dry earth.
*
Out of this silence:
cockcrow,
gossipy chatter, gossamer music
stirring the air.
If you listen closely, you will hear
secret
conversations.
*
Letter
by ornate letter,
the wor(l)d is represented.
*
How to describe without
description, how to paint a portrait
without
the subject's image. There is
something to be gleaned from this: the real
resists
to be
represented.
*
Interspersed
between figures, between letters
are vines and shrubs,
sprawling
tropical flora. And in all
this labored realism,
the obsessive attention
to detail,
the letters themselves
appear almost incidental.
*
Almost. Their names are still out-
lined,
epitaphs
of the upper class:
WILLIAM P. PIERCE, FRANCISCO
GARCIA ORTIZ.
They know how
the equatorial heat and monsoon rains
afflict us with
amnesia.
*
And now this fate more than
a century hence:
to be housed
in a museum or private
collection;
to be recognized
extant, time's only surviving
form. Let this
fiction of a past
be memory.
+++++++++
(Note: "Letras y Figuras," which literally means letters and figures, was a popular art form in the Philippines from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. Rendered using watercolor on brown paper, it depicts tableaus of ordinary Filipino scenes, with letters of the patron's name cleverly formed to mimic human figures engaged in various activities.)
By Rodrigo V. Dela Peña Jr.
Their names are a kind of narrative
though imagined, the way history
unfolds
before the page.
Before the canvas the letters
shape the scenes—
fin de siècle
settings and measured gesturings.
*
JOSE FERCED
Y TEMPRADO, BALVINO MAURICIO…
Who is to say
the dead
tell no stories? In the afterlife
they long to be
and be remembered.
Who can tell if the dead make
up lies?
*
T is a man
with a sugarcane upon his shoulders,
C a languid mother
carrying a baby.
To be burdened
by one thing
or another, a lifetime's
occupation—
the loop of P a weathered face, wrinkled
as dry earth.
*
Out of this silence:
cockcrow,
gossipy chatter, gossamer music
stirring the air.
If you listen closely, you will hear
secret
conversations.
*
Letter
by ornate letter,
the wor(l)d is represented.
*
How to describe without
description, how to paint a portrait
without
the subject's image. There is
something to be gleaned from this: the real
resists
to be
represented.
*
Interspersed
between figures, between letters
are vines and shrubs,
sprawling
tropical flora. And in all
this labored realism,
the obsessive attention
to detail,
the letters themselves
appear almost incidental.
*
Almost. Their names are still out-
lined,
epitaphs
of the upper class:
WILLIAM P. PIERCE, FRANCISCO
GARCIA ORTIZ.
They know how
the equatorial heat and monsoon rains
afflict us with
amnesia.
*
And now this fate more than
a century hence:
to be housed
in a museum or private
collection;
to be recognized
extant, time's only surviving
form. Let this
fiction of a past
be memory.
+++++++++
(Note: "Letras y Figuras," which literally means letters and figures, was a popular art form in the Philippines from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. Rendered using watercolor on brown paper, it depicts tableaus of ordinary Filipino scenes, with letters of the patron's name cleverly formed to mimic human figures engaged in various activities.)
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