Sampson Starkweather’s latest chapbook, The Heart Is Green From So Much Waiting (Immaculate Disciples Press), is a chapbook of “transcontemporations,” which, Starkweather explains, are to poems what Robocop is to normal police officers. Obviously, if we’re playing along at home, this is both a joke and not a joke. Like maybe it’s a battle cry and a cat call, maybe it’s a desire to be unremoved from the original feeling of seeing through the eyes of Robocop himself. If we’re playing along at home, The Heart Is Green From So Much Waiting feels some kind of gameshow hosted by a monk.
In these poems, this monk says such things as “In seventh grade, I couldn’t find the heart / on a 3D anatomy model. I just stood there like a town / dotted with paralyzed tornadoes.” And “Just as I notarized a conglomeration of boy / and man, they marooned me with the memory of swimming.” The title says Waiting, but I keep seeing Wanting: of carnality, connection, a way to have one’s teeth and one’s teeth marks too. Or, as the book says: “How strange to be alive. Before I was dead, it was my favorite. Finally we’ve found the perfect way not to describe something. Life is like a box, with Tom Hanks inside it.” Starkweather is brazen with his mix, so lost keychains and unplanned birds and the dead floating on the ceilings of everything, “wearing earrings in their old age like Ed Bradley,” are all worthy twists in his project of understanding, which Starkweather knows is a project too mature to dismiss anything. Because if the heart doesn’t know how to dismiss anything, why should we apologize? Whatever we’re here for, we aren’t here to feel embarrassed. This is a sweet little book. It’s only $8, which is the infinity symbol doing a headstand. Check it out.
Tags: sampson starkweather
Thanks for the heads up on this, Mike. It glimpses wonderful and the fabulous review is a clincher. Have ordered.
Seriously: how the eff do you guys read all these books promoted here? I assume you also write, have a day job, familial responsibilities, perhaps, or — if you’re a slacker like me — whe assloads of classics staring you down, making you feel guilty. Also let’s not forget HBO, and shows like The Wire…
Is there some sort of Fermata-esque hipster time machine I’m missing out on? Somebody halp!
:-O
Terrific review. Look forward to reading Mr. Starkweather’s “transcontemporations.” Would like to post on the blog word pond http://donnafleischer.wordpress.com/ .
“A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he starts forth, will have condemned himself to second-hand thoughts, and to second-rate friends.”
All you have to do is say that something’s different and new. I’m curious. Have there been any other notable Starkweathers besides Charles?
thanks, donna. and sure, post away.
sam is the only one
IT’S AN ILLUSION PEMULIS
THE BOOKS DISCUSSED HERE AREN’T READ BY ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTORS. WHAT YOU’RE SAYING IS LIKE OPENING THE NYRB, WHISTLING, AND SAYING: “HOW DID THEY ALL READ SO MANY BOOKS???”
BLAKE BUTLER READ ABOUT 150 BOOKS LAST YEAR. THAT’S A LOT, BUT ALSO A LOT MORE MANAGEABLE THAN READING SEVEN/EIGHTEEN/A HUNDRED BOOKS A WEEK
PLUS THIS BOOK LOOKS REALLY SHORT
THIS IS ALL SPECULATION BUT YOU COULD READ IT IN THE TIME IT TAKES GAGA TO FINISH HER TELEPHONE SONG
PAUL THAT IS THE KIND OF QUOTE THAT GETS PEOPLE DEPRESSED.
Thanks for the heads up on this, Mike. It glimpses wonderful and the fabulous review is a clincher. Have ordered.
Seriously: how the eff do you guys read all these books promoted here? I assume you also write, have a day job, familial responsibilities, perhaps, or — if you’re a slacker like me — whe assloads of classics staring you down, making you feel guilty. Also let’s not forget HBO, and shows like The Wire…
Is there some sort of Fermata-esque hipster time machine I’m missing out on? Somebody halp!
:-O
Terrific review. Look forward to reading Mr. Starkweather’s “transcontemporations.” Would like to post on the blog word pond http://donnafleischer.wordpress.com/ .
“A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he starts forth, will have condemned himself to second-hand thoughts, and to second-rate friends.”
feel like I say this a lot, but seriously that cover is ridiculous and good.
I read in my sleep! ; )
All you have to do is say that something’s different and new. I’m curious. Have there been any other notable Starkweathers besides Charles?
thanks, donna. and sure, post away.
sam is the only one
IT’S AN ILLUSION PEMULIS
THE BOOKS DISCUSSED HERE AREN’T READ BY ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTORS. WHAT YOU’RE SAYING IS LIKE OPENING THE NYRB, WHISTLING, AND SAYING: “HOW DID THEY ALL READ SO MANY BOOKS???”
BLAKE BUTLER READ ABOUT 150 BOOKS LAST YEAR. THAT’S A LOT, BUT ALSO A LOT MORE MANAGEABLE THAN READING SEVEN/EIGHTEEN/A HUNDRED BOOKS A WEEK
PLUS THIS BOOK LOOKS REALLY SHORT
THIS IS ALL SPECULATION BUT YOU COULD READ IT IN THE TIME IT TAKES GAGA TO FINISH HER TELEPHONE SONG
hi pemulis, i read this book this morning and really enjoyed it, so i thought i’d write a little post about it.
you’ll dig it, david
agreed
PAUL THAT IS THE KIND OF QUOTE THAT GETS PEOPLE DEPRESSED.
feel like I say this a lot, but seriously that cover is ridiculous and good.
I read in my sleep! ; )
hi pemulis, i read this book this morning and really enjoyed it, so i thought i’d write a little post about it.
you’ll dig it, david
agreed
Shameless plug (perhaps) but if you find yourself in NYC this Saturday there’s a dual chapbook release party for Sam & I.
Details on the Flying Guillotine Press blog.
http://flyingguillotinepress.blogspot.com/
It will be fun.
hey steven, not shameless at all! sounds fun! also you guys look a little bit alike so that will enhance the reading, i feel
Shameless plug (perhaps) but if you find yourself in NYC this Saturday there’s a dual chapbook release party for Sam & I.
Details on the Flying Guillotine Press blog.
http://flyingguillotinepress.blogspot.com/
It will be fun.
hey steven, not shameless at all! sounds fun! also you guys look a little bit alike so that will enhance the reading, i feel
oh i know those phone whales well
oh i know those phone whales well
I strongly suggest you read this chapbook, because it’s one of the best things published this year or just published period. For real. And I suggest you come to the Karl + Starkweather launch on Saturday.
Mike-
Ha! I love it & I also love yer picks for the No Tell Summer Reading.
http://notellpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/06/recommended-summer-reading-mike-young.html
Ana-
Thank you. You are as gracious as you are talented.
I strongly suggest you read this chapbook, because it’s one of the best things published this year or just published period. For real. And I suggest you come to the Karl + Starkweather launch on Saturday.
Mike-
Ha! I love it & I also love yer picks for the No Tell Summer Reading.
http://notellpoetry.blogspot.com/2010/06/recommended-summer-reading-mike-young.html
Ana-
Thank you. You are as gracious as you are talented.
[…] Tell me about your chapbook. I believe all my chapbooks are out of print, but I can tell you they were all out from super rad presses, Greying Ghost Press, Horseless Press, Rope-a-Dope Press and Immaculate Disciples Press, actually there are a few copies of The Heart is Green from So Much Waiting but I’ll let Mike Young tell you about it. […]
[…] Three years ago on HTMLGIANT I said that your poetry feels like a gameshow hosted by a monk. A battle cry and a cat call. Plus I […]