ArtSake — Amy Dryansky: No Birds Were Harmed in the Making of this Poem

amy-dryanskyAnother captivating voice, I like — strike that — love, the narrative drive of her poetry:

Amy Dryansky: No Birds Were Harmed in the Making of this Poem

Language is fossil poetry, Emerson said, in reference to

I know not what, possibly

an aster in stony clay, a theory of light.

Something that finds its way out.

The interviewer asked if I’d ever abandoned a creative project,

and if so, did I come back to it?

Yes, I have, yes, I did, yes, that’s me

ripping out stitches, going too far with the scissors.

That’s me with the bulging bag of scraps,

humdrum of production.

My mother always said you can never have

too many good, clean rags.

Speaking of my mother,

she wanted me to find someplace else to be young.

Why don’t you do something productive? she’d mutter

as I stumbled from bed to couch

to towel on the lawn, slippery with baby oil,

not even reading a book.

We didn’t know back then what the sun could do to you…

(excerpt)

via ArtSake » Amy Dryansky: No Birds Were Harmed in the Making of this Poem.

Grass Whistle: Amy Dryansky: 9781908836410: Amazon.com: Books.

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6 Comments

  1. Luanne
    January 7, 2014

    Beautiful.

  2. January 7, 2014

    Dearest V
    What impeccable taste you have (as if I didn’t know).
    What a voice!
    Yours ever
    The Perfumed Dandy

    • January 8, 2014

      Isn’t she marvelous? Her books are in my Amazon basket as we speak…

  3. January 7, 2014

    LOVE! Thanks for introducing her beautiful work to us.

    • January 8, 2014

      Me too! You’re so welcome – am dithering around with this damn cold still, but I think I will treat myself with a visit to your site. xox, V

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