Received

Today I received in the mail Tom Beckett’s e=x=c=h=a=n=g=e=v=a=l=u=e=s. I am very proud to be included in The First XI interviews. The book is BEAUTIFULLY designed by collaborators Tom Beckett, Mark Young, harry k. stammer and Geof Huth (Geof’s gorgeous vispo, “NZXT” (2003) graces the back cover in blue, purple, green and black), published by Mark Young’s Otoliths. Now I want to read all the interviews all over again. I find Tom’s reference to the “skein of raveling threads” when introducing my interview — curious, because I nearly named my tumblr blog “Ravel” or “Raveling,” instead of “ply!”

AND

I have also received Eileen Tabios’ sexy chapbook, THE SINGER And Others: Flamenco Hay(na)ku, published by Dusie. Personal note: I used to be a visual artist (painter) with a studio in a barn loft, and the whole nine yards, until — I read Lorca’s “Poet in New York.” (Well, OK, writing was a lot cheaper to produce than paintings, but really, it was Lorca that got me started writing). Also, I have to admit, I once took Flamenco lessons. OK, there, I said it. But damn, it was fun; and a good excuse to go Flamenco clubbing in SF. Anyway, the cover of THE SINGER is quite passionately ripped, only for the ripped piece to appear later in the book, with Eileen’s own writing on it — and so the evidence of her hand is here, giving the book a personal feel. It’s a beautiful chapbook, and it feels very much like Eileen…Lorca is in these pages too….

and I can’t wait for the performance in Berkeley (during my birthday month, too. Perfect!)