Tenant

[Animalhill]

***Note: This is the only subject I've never been able to write about, and tried very, very early this morning.

"Feed me Aripiprazol! Feed me fucker,"
Screams the bitter drifter-
he who finds sustenance
in fever dreams and dread and needs validation
from no one.
He who has seen to it that I exist like a
rabid dog zipped up in a sleeping bag;
pawing at the walls of my body.

(The hundreds of people heaving
in the grave of my room are echoes of
his psyche.)

"Rip her arms off! Grab her by the hair and fly her like a kite,"
Insists the drifter, spitting absinthe and venom.
And though
I've long since lost the straw that fed me
Devil's ash and speed- it is a
beast of a thing to deal with at
3am on a Tuesday.

[The Personist]

I think it would work better if you didn't tell us the drifter was in your head. Let the metaphor persist. Also, why a drifter? Is there some other, more commanding way to image this "voice in the head" sort of thing? This reads kind of like Bukowski's "Bluebird" poem, but I think you need to tweak it a bit.

It is a tough subject, though, and it's kinda cool that you gave it a shot. I have a few subjects like that...maybe i'll take a whack at 'em.

[Animalhill]

I hear you man. The deal is I was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 6 months ago and trying to remove the personal element of it (ie "in my head") is extremely difficult. However, I believe it is necessary. Thanks man

[The Personist]

I hear you man. The deal is I was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 6 months ago and trying to remove the personal element of it (ie "in my head") is extremely difficult. However, I believe it is necessary. Thanks man

I think a piece can be personal without you telling us it's in your head, you know? This reads very personally and has a very distinct tone and shows what you are thinking on the whole subject, and it would do so even if you took that out.

[Animalhill]

I think a piece can be personal without you telling us it's in your head, you know? This reads very personally and has a very distinct tone and shows what you are thinking on the whole subject, and it would do so even if you took that out.
Haha sorry man, I totally wrote my response wrong. I meant I also feel it is necessary to remove the directly personal aspect (in my head) to make the poem more effective. SEE: my edit in the poem. I think this works better.

[The Personist]

It does work better as edited. I think there's still stuff to work on--"the likes of which I never dreamed" is a cliche, and "a beast of a thing" could probably be reworked into a stronger image--but that edit, I think, makes it read better.

[Animalhill]

It does work better as edited. I think there's still stuff to work on--"the likes of which I never dreamed" is a cliche, and "a beast of a thing" could probably be reworked into a stronger image--but that edit, I think, makes it read better.
I agree completely with the "the likes of which...". Again, thanks for the criticism. You get that Rimbaud book yet?

[The Personist]

I agree completely with the "the likes of which...". Again, thanks for the criticism. You get that Rimbaud book yet?

No, but I get paid today, so hopefully I'll be ordering it sooooon!

[Animalhill]

No, but I get paid today, so hopefully I'll be ordering it sooooon!
Nice dude! I think you'll really enjoy it. Its so much more than just a collected works- it is sorted chronologically and gives an amazing insight into his life.

[The Personist]

Nice dude! I think you'll really enjoy it. Its so much more than just a collected works- it is sorted chronologically and gives an amazing insight into his life.

I noticed that as I was reading the description on the link you gave. I think that's always the best way to go. My biggest qualm with my Collected Poems of Frank O'Hara is that it doesn't really seem to be in any sort of order (by collection, or by date), and so you don't really get a sense of progression, at least that I'm aware of.

[Animalhill]

I noticed that as I was reading the description on the link you gave. I think that's always the best way to go. My biggest qualm with my Collected Poems of Frank O'Hara is that it doesn't really seem to be in any sort of order (by collection, or by date), and so you don't really get a sense of progression, at least that I'm aware of.
That would honestly annoy the shit out of me. I like chronologically not only to see the writer's progression, but to historically cross-reference the writing with major events and kind of look to see how that influenced the mood/imagery etc.

[The Personist]

That would honestly annoy the shit out of me. I like chronologically not only to see the writer's progression, but to historically cross-reference the writing with major events and kind of look to see how that influenced the mood/imagery etc.

Even if it would annoy you, I still recommend the collected poems over anything else. 500+ pages of poetry for 28 bucks, and I consider O'Hara a genius who is underrepresented by his available individual books, so the Collected is the way to go.

My Wallace Stevens is chronological, and so are my Hart Crane and William Carlos Williams. I think it's also important to have a good editor in the case of "selected poems" things (like WCW's for me--the dude who edited it picked some good stuff)

[Animalhill]

Even if it would annoy you, I still recommend the collected poems over anything else. 500+ pages of poetry for 28 bucks, and I consider O'Hara a genius who is underrepresented by his available individual books, so the Collected is the way to go.

My Wallace Stevens is chronological, and so are my Hart Crane and William Carlos Williams. I think it's also important to have a good editor in the case of "selected poems" things (like WCW's for me--the dude who edited it picked some good stuff)
Word- I'll check it out. I need new reading material- just finished one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read, "The Lucifer Principle". It will blow your mind.

[The Personist]

Word- I'll check it out. I need new reading material- just finished one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read, "The Lucifer Principle". It will blow your mind.

Eh....

I hate Harold Bloom.

[The Personist]

Maybe it's because of his stupid ideas about Shakespeare, but he just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Animalhill]

Eh....

I hate Harold Bloom.
Did you read that in a previous book of his?
This book man... when you read it you need to put aside all of your philosophical/religious beliefs and just enjoy the scale of his theories.

[The Personist]

Did you read that in a previous book of his?
This book man... when you read it you need to put aside all of your philosophical/religious beliefs and just enjoy the scale of his theories.

I did read it in a previous book. I suppose I might enjoy it. It's probably a similar kind of book as Terry Eagleton's upcoming one (title eludes me at the moment) about religion as a counter to Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, and their crazy shit. Eagleton's a hilariously good writer, and if you ever get a chance, read his review of The God Delusion. He fucking destroys Dawkins in so many ways.

[Animalhill]

I did read it in a previous book. I suppose I might enjoy it. It's probably a similar kind of book as Terry Eagleton's upcoming one (title eludes me at the moment) about religion as a counter to Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, and their crazy shit. Eagleton's a hilariously good writer, and if you ever get a chance, read his review of The God Delusion. He fucking destroys Dawkins in so many ways.
Haha I would enjoy any work that reveals Dawkins to be the misaligned moron that he is.
The Lucifer Principle is less a critique of philosphy and more a holding of a mirror up to mankind. You can really draw many conclusions from it.

[The Personist]

Haha I would enjoy any work that reveals Dawkins to be the misaligned moron that he is.
The Lucifer Principle is less a critique of philosphy and more a holding of a mirror up to mankind. You can really draw many conclusions from it.

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n20/eagl01_.html

Eagleton on Dawkins. Epic win.


Hmm...Perhaps I'm being overly dismissive. maybe I'll give Bloom's book a gander.

[Animalhill]

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n20/eagl01_.html (http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n20/eagl01_.html)

Eagleton on Dawkins. Epic win.


Hmm...Perhaps I'm being overly dismissive. maybe I'll give Bloom's book a gander.
That's really well written and I would have to agree that it is an epic win. You should give that book a look though- even while not agreeing with everything Bloom says, it is an unbelievable read and still to this day I connect something in my life (especially while working for a corporation) to the book. It is more of a study of pecking orders amongst everything from ants to nations to superorganism than any sort of study on "lucifer". Really fucking interesting man. I wouldn't recommend it to you if I didn't think you'd dig it.

[The Personist]

That's really well written and I would have to agree that it is an epic win. You should give that book a look though- even while not agreeing with everything Bloom says, it is an unbelievable read and still to this day I connect something in my life (especially while working for a corporation) to the book. It is more of a study of pecking orders amongst everything from ants to nations to superorganism than any sort of study on "lucifer". Really fucking interesting man. I wouldn't recommend it to you if I didn't think you'd dig it.

Fair enough. Maybe I'll pick it up when I buy Rimbaud, but I'll definitely give it a look. You should avoid Bloom's book about Shakespeare, though, because it's a pretty ignorant exercise in pseudointellectual drivel.

[The Personist]

Haha I would enjoy any work that reveals Dawkins to be the misaligned moron that he is.
The Lucifer Principle is less a critique of philosphy and more a holding of a mirror up to mankind. You can really draw many conclusions from it.

Duuuuuuuude. Shit. I'm so freaking sorry.


I'm thinking of HAROLD Bloom, not Howard. Hahahahaha I'm so fucking retarded.

[Animalhill]

Duuuuuuuude. Shit. I'm so freaking sorry.


I'm thinking of HAROLD Bloom, not Howard. Hahahahaha I'm so fucking retarded.
hahaha oh man! I was going to say, I couldn't see Howard Bloom getting to into Shakespear crticism.
Definitely pick up that book then!

[The Personist]

hahaha oh man! I was going to say, I couldn't see Howard Bloom getting to into Shakespear crticism.
Definitely pick up that book then!

Perhaps I shall...

HAROLD Bloom is a douche, though. He's made a career of classicist snobbery.

[Animalhill]

Perhaps I shall...

HAROLD Bloom is a douche, though. He's made a career of classicist snobbery.
You know what dude- I actually have a link to the book:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5991670/Howard-Bloom-The-Lucifer-Principle Its obviously not as pleasent as reading a physical book- but if you want to preview before you buy or read the whole thing online there it is.

[The Personist]

You know what dude- I actually have a link to the book:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5991670/Howard-Bloom-The-Lucifer-Principle Its obviously not as pleasent as reading a physical book- but if you want to preview before you buy or read the whole thing online there it is.

I got the complete works of Rimbaud. I went to Borders yesterday and lo and behold, they had it in store!

I'm excited. i read the first bit of "Season In Hell" and was massively impressed by this translation.

[Animalhill]

I got the complete works of Rimbaud. I went to Borders yesterday and lo and behold, they had it in store!

I'm excited. i read the first bit of "Season In Hell" and was massively impressed by this translation.
Right dude!? That translation is amazing. This girl that I used to sleep with spoke fluent french and I had her read the original French and then the Translation and she was super impressed, especially how he managed to capture Rimbaud's tone so well.

[The Personist]

Right dude!? That translation is amazing. This girl that I used to sleep with spoke fluent french and I had her read the original French and then the Translation and she was super impressed, especially how he managed to capture Rimbaud's tone so well.

I haven't read Season in Hell yet, but I've been reading his other poetry, and it is astonishing. He was so young, and yet his voice is so bitter and disillusioned. "My Little Lovelies" is like gut-wrenchingly vile and so perfectly perverse. This guy rocks! And good call on the translation; that's always the toughest part about buying poetry or books in general. A good translation makes ALL the difference, and this is an EXCELLENT translation (and it's nice to know your French-fluent former friend with benefits has confirmed how badass this translation is!).

I wish I could undergo this rapid an artistic progression and growth. Sigh.

[Animalhill]

I haven't read Season in Hell yet, but I've been reading his other poetry, and it is astonishing. He was so young, and yet his voice is so bitter and disillusioned. "My Little Lovelies" is like gut-wrenchingly vile and so perfectly perverse. This guy rocks! And good call on the translation; that's always the toughest part about buying poetry or books in general. A good translation makes ALL the difference, and this is an EXCELLENT translation (and it's nice to know your French-fluent former friend with benefits has confirmed how badass this translation is!).

I wish I could undergo this rapid an artistic progression and growth. Sigh.
He is a sevant dude. I believe in the back of the book there is prose from when he was like, 9 or 10 and it is fucking astonishing that he was even thinking the things he was. "My Little Lovelies" is one of my favorites- just the feeling of control that he has (at that age) is horrifying and brilliant.

[Animalhill]

I haven't read Season in Hell yet, but I've been reading his other poetry, and it is astonishing. He was so young, and yet his voice is so bitter and disillusioned. "My Little Lovelies" is like gut-wrenchingly vile and so perfectly perverse. This guy rocks! And good call on the translation; that's always the toughest part about buying poetry or books in general. A good translation makes ALL the difference, and this is an EXCELLENT translation (and it's nice to know your French-fluent former friend with benefits has confirmed how badass this translation is!).

I wish I could undergo this rapid an artistic progression and growth. Sigh.
I think we also need to keep in mind the historical context of the time. France was undergoing major literary revolution. Also, he wandered the countryside drinking absinthe and pillaging by the age of 17.

[The Personist]

I think we also need to keep in mind the historical context of the time. France was undergoing major literary revolution. Also, he wandered the countryside drinking absinthe and pillaging by the age of 17.

Yeah, well, if I could wander the country and do that I would be quite content :-p

But seriously, lit. revolution or not, the kid is a genius. There's a poem he did for a Latin exam, and it's damn good. He has such a grasp on verse and verse forms. That's the other thing I like about the translation. It shows quite clearly how adept Rimbaud was in terms of verse forms.

[Animalhill]

Yeah, well, if I could wander the country and do that I would be quite content :-p

But seriously, lit. revolution or not, the kid is a genius. There's a poem he did for a Latin exam, and it's damn good. He has such a grasp on verse and verse forms. That's the other thing I like about the translation. It shows quite clearly how adept Rimbaud was in terms of verse forms.
As would I!
And yes, besides KNOWING how young he was, his poems (in content and structure) do not allude at all to inexperience.

[The Personist]

As would I!
And yes, besides KNOWING how young he was, his poems (in content and structure) do not allude at all to inexperience.

I feel like my artistic life is haunted by Rimbaud's infinitely cooler artistic life and how jealous I am of it.

Also Frank O'Hara. Minus the getting hit by a car.

[Animalhill]

I feel like my artistic life is haunted by Rimbaud's infinitely cooler artistic life and how jealous I am of it.

Also Frank O'Hara. Minus the getting hit by a car.
Haha I hear you man. His biography is so fucking interesting- he died as weapons trading amputee in Africa at like 25 or something. So fucking gruesome and yet perfect.