So I received in my email inbox the other day an announcement from some friends of mine concerning their new press venture, Birds, LLC. This is exciting because I never get emails about new press ventures, let alone ones from people I hold in high regard. I'm sure by now news has been tweet-ed, chirped, etc all around the various branches of the net and everyone is flocking over to the new website cooing over the two new books Birds is putting out. If you haven't you should, if just to put a feather in your cap. If you're looking for good poetry to peck at I'm sure both these titles will fit bill.
First, Elisa Gabbert's The French Exit.
The official blurbs are here, but I'm going to give an unorthodox endorsement. I've read Elisa's collaborative poems with Kathleen Rooney and really enjoy them in a power pop sort of way. They make me laugh and get me out of my own Smiths-esque poetry malaise. If you've read and liked That Tiny Insane Voluptuousness, I guarantee you'll like this book at least half as much. Think about it. Or better yet, don't, just buy the book. Did I mention this it also contains the quote: “Do not be afraid of angering the birds. What angers the birds is fear.” Reminds me of Hitchcock, but that's neither here nor there.
I once got in an enjoyable argument with Elisa about God knows what (except the fact she called me a hipster, but as I'm currently wearing a bandanna and no other cowboy paraphernalia, she is probably right). Anyone I can have an enjoyable argument with and writes poetry I enjoy is worth my $12 (and yours as well).
Chris Tonelli's The Trees Around.
Here again is my two cents. Again, I have read other books by Chris, namely No Theater. I promise you all an in depth review on No Theater in the future. I've filled half a notebook up dissecting it. Let's just say for now it is one of, if not my favorite, book of 2009. And there was some good stuff out there. This sample poem seems to be familiar to me, as if it was in one of his other collections. I'm not sure about that, but if this book is half as good as No Theater it's going to be very enjoyable, indeed. Add to that fact that Chris got Bill Knott to blurb it and I'm excited.
That said, Chris actually (probably unknowingly) introduced me to just about anything poetic I can think of. It was way back when Chris and I were selling shoes together in Boston that he mentioned Franz Wright to me, which was my doorway to reading contemporary poetry. Later, more knowingly, he introduced me to Mary at Rope-A-Dope, which has started me down the road of letterpress, publishing, and a community of writers/artists I wouldn't have met otherwise. Plus, he's a good drinking buddy. Again, an official blurb here.
If you're still on the fence about these titles or Birds LLC in general, let me rattle your cage. One of the things I'm really excited about is the "specialization" of Birds, which is "close author relationships in order to make the most awesome books in the world." This is very important because I really believe that the beginning of that quote directly effects the ending. From my formative years at UNH to now, poetry has been about community. I have never had much satisfaction from writing/reading poetry in a vacuum, and neither do the people at Birds. I feel that the give and take, the movement of ideas from writer to editor and back is crucial to creating works of literature that resonate. Having the attention and energy of two people adds depth that allows for the poems to be "the most awesome" they can be. Again, A topic I'm sure I'll write more about at a later date. For now, just check them out, spread the word.
Let me know what you think.