Tag Archives: poems

Old Man Punk

“Vanessa of the B Line” (lyrics, alt 2)

September 12, 2022 daveo Leave a comment

Not the B-Line (but that’s not the point)

V.1

I’ve heard that pretty girls

don’t rides buses

but here you are

in Fluevogs and glasses

V.2

You seem to notice that

i’m already schemeing

about English Bay fireworks

and Kitsilano dreaming

C.1

Already i call you

sweet Vanessa of B-line

Before my stop on Cambie

I’m gonna ring the bell

and ask your real name

B.1

You and me it’s agreed

already have a history

set in fast-forward speed

i’m already collecting

our future unspoken

just give in quickly

before i need a new token

V.3

I’ll write my Twitter

on the back of the Buzzer

cause i wanna follow you

in all sorts of ways

V.4

You’re looking so smart

but I’m too shy to stare

tugging your ponytail

and reading Baudelaire

V.5

On the back of my ticket

I’ll pass you a note

get off at the Seabus

run away to Deep cove

Refrain

Vanessa act quick now

we’re almost passed the street

i’ll too nervous to tell you

that i think you are

sweet Vanessa of the the b-line …

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Japan Cottage Musings

Poetry & Design from Several Small-ish Books

Video September 5, 2022 daveo 1 Comment

let’s hang out and enjoy some poetry and whatnot

“In the studio barn, anxious on account of an impending medical and other “life admin” project, Dave reads from a variety of slim-sized (mostly) books of poetry, discusses book layout, design and publishing styles and pathways, relates some anecdotes about writers & how the books came to be here. Plus a few musings and projects of his own – while trying to calm a weary head and body.”

(I will add a proper list of books and writers, soonish, not right now, but of course if you just watch you know about the books cause you’ll hear all the poems)

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Shoebox

Senryu / assorted, (rather silly, some not)

August 29, 2022 daveo Leave a comment

Senryu are meant to be (the more formal, serene and seasonal)Haiku’s sillier cousin and in fact pre-date haiku as a form.

Imagine Japanese folks, centuries ago, I’m getting themselves around the heart with short humorous anecdote and having a good laugh.

photo has nothing to do with the poems but put here because it will make it look more Japanese

Either way, here’s a wee cycle i uncovered in a forgotten shoebox, shared here for your possible bewilderment and amusement.

Written, 2003-4, Olympia, WA (likely)

“Spam – ku”
40 million dollars
again and again
offered from Nigeria

But she told me she’d meet me
At the Thai restaurant
downtown!

I already told you
I love you ~
Can I hang up now?

The dog and I
Shared a dinner
Of tortilla chips and beer

Thinking of Amsterdam,
I slip
on rainy cobblestones

Driving the old, old highway
through Central park
Avoiding all the birds

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Items: Forgotten

Attenuated Telepathy (aerogramme) – Items: Forgotten in Drawers (vol. 8, Resistor)

Image August 3, 2022 daveo Leave a comment

Attenuated Telepathogram (aerogramme) – Items: Forgotten in Drawers (vol. 8, resistor)

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Writing Life

Gary Snyder Tribute from Library of America

Video July 21, 2022 daveo Leave a comment

The great poet Gary Snyder’s “entire” collection of published – and previously uncollected works – was recently assembled and published by the “Library of America” (realizing here I don’t really know exactly what the Library of America is but certainly recognize their distinctive cover art).

In this case, from LOA (edited by Jack Shoemaker and Anthony Hunt) comes a mighty tome of Gary Snyder, ergo:

Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems | Myths & Texts | The Back Country | Regarding Wave | Turtle Island | Axe Handles | Left Out in the Rain | from No Nature | Mountains and Rivers Without End | Danger on Peaks | This Present Moment | Uncollected Poems, Drafts, Fragments, and Translations

Anyway, to commemorate the occasion, there was a video-teleconferencing-event with various collaborators, writers, enthusiasts, naturalists, acquaintances, a noted elected official, and so on providing personal anecdotes about esteemed Mr. Snyder as well as reading a few particular favourites from his extensive canon.

For my own reference (and yours), here are a couple of screenshots from (what was the early morning in Japan) event with Gary and Poet Wang Ping who shared her wonderful story about Axe Handles which includes a real life incident involving *the* axe handle, the real kid (now adult), and the actual Ezra Pound book – whew.

Included for your edification is the video from the aforementioned Library of America YT channel. Enjoy!

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Personal Musings, Writing Life

Notebook poetry scribbles, new keys & records (in the kura studio)

March 9, 2022 daveo Leave a comment

In bed sick a lot these last weeks/months #MECFS, which means I scribbled a lot in my bedside notebooks while in the fog.

Mostly will be filed in my “old man punk” dossier meeting semi-lyrical, probably angsty, likely too revealing bits & scraps of shiny foolish gold… which may eventually become songs or otherwise.

So anyhow, came out to the barn studio today just to bring/move some stuff around and try and get my brain and body moving a wee and set-up a device ideal for transcribing.

(thanks to Neal Cropper for keys & Rebecca & John Bollwitt for Yukon notebook)

And, listened to Television “Marquee Moon” = vinyl perfection

Also got the soundtrack to Wes Anderson’s “the French Dispatch“ along with another record by “top top” a.k.a. Jarvis Cocker which goes along with the movies vibes (i guess), also a poster in the pack (signed).

annnd a non/fictional magazine, seen here with a copy of the inspiration source The New Yorker and another French culture magazine (in English).

Somehow it makes me think of the Borges quote “the original is unfaithful to the translation“.

As it goes, while I’ve collected artifacts about the movie, I still haven’t had a chance to see it here in Japan (Yes I can get it from dodgy sources but waiting for proper Japanese subtitles so I can enjoy with my family).