Issue 2

FWIW: My posts on For Godot's Issue 1 are now “anthologized” in Issue 2 [pdf].

Hat tip: Charles Bernstein

A hoax anthology

I like the idea behind the hoax anthology posted recently by the folks at for godot: a collection of poems attributed to poets who didn't actually write them. But I'm not as keen on the execution. Are these seemingly computer-generated texts supposed to be parodies? If not, then is one poem by each poet enough to allow this project to do or say anything significant? I think maybe the project could have worked if the editors built up a kind of false context for each poet in the “issue.” Issue, I guess, means that this will be an annual or something? That's fine. I have no idea what they expected to gain by including me and a host of other poets most have never heard of. Were the editors trying to say something about the vast number of publishing poets these day? Or were they just trying to create an absurdly huge issue? Whatever the faults so far, I'd be interested to see what these guys come up with if they make a second stab at it. If they can give it a point or two. But if the point is only supposed to be that there is no point—yawn—or if this is just another faux heralding of the death of the author—yawn, yawn—that would only be worth it if the pieces succeeded as art, which they don't.

Here's “my” poem (from page 2580!)—

The imperial ways

Delirium turned like red
Little as a key

A piece of
                  ways
A thread of periods
The imperial orbits
Using silver
A foot of emeralds

Making ice
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Hat tip: Geof Huth.