John Dorsey reviews John G. Hall's "Me And My Broken Mouth"

It’s All About Rhythm: A few words on John G. Hall’s ‘Me and My Broken Mouth’By John Dorsey
I won’t claim to be an expert on the litrary career ofseasoned poet/editor John G. Hall, in fact his latestoffering from Covert Press was my first experiencesampling his words. Hall has been noted for writingabout love, life, childhood, & politics, in simplerterms the stuff of every day life. ‘Me and My BrokenMouth’ continues in that vein.
Hall is a poet who lays his feelings bear on the page,wears his heart & words on his sleeve, all that...Onecan feel the bite of his words and his personalpolitics throughout ‘Me and My Broken Mouth’. Havingbeen called a political poet more than once myself, Imust admit I feel a kinship with both the poet and hispolitical views.
These things being said, I think Hall is at his bestwhen speechless in the face of the wonder of every daymiracles, rather than the politics that get in the wayof truly living our lives to the fullest, somethingthat from reading his book, I’m sure Hall believes invery very strongly.
Would I recommend ‘Me and My Broken Mouth’ toreaders of modern poetry? Yes and no, if you arecoming to poetry expecting flowers, puppies, or modernsonnets of love, well John G. Hall may just punch youin the stomach, though if you have an appetite blood,guts, and world issues that truly matter, then you mayjust find ‘Me and My Broken Mouth’ well worth coughingup more than a little blood for.
I’ll leave you with a few lines from the title poem,also my favorite from the book...
Me and My Broken Mouth
Me and my broken mouth are not worth listening to, solisten instead to the dust and the dazzle of thisevening’s constellation,to the jumping jacks of our our hearts, to the beat-ing mantra of the waves,please do not listen to me and my broken mouth,while miracles happen.
-John G. Hall
‘Me and My Broken Mouth’ is available for $5pp.from Covert PressPO Box 1057/Port Salerno, Fl 34992.Make checks payable to Michael Grover

Archived

I was on the Mo Green Show a couple of months ago and you can hear it http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword/2007/12/02/The-Moe-Green-Poetry-Hour-Hosted-By-Rafael-F-J-Alvarado-Stacey-Mangiaracina there.

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Sunday 2/24. 5:00 pm EST.
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Factotum

I watched Factotum last night. I know very writerly of me. My first impression is that Matt Dylan plays Henry Chinasky much better than Mickey Rorque did. My second impression is that I know it's been a while since I read Factotum but it seems to me Hollywood worked their magic and changed and added a few scences to make it seem more entertaining. Which has to be expected. It's Hollywood right? The movie was good, entertaining. I think Matt Dylan did a good job of capturing the "I don't give a fuck" attitude of Bukowski and the adventures in the book translated well on the screen.

Straight From The Desk Of Covert Press

Coming soon (Within the next couple of weeks) on Covert Press:
CP #4: Michael Grover "The Man That Lives In The Park"
CP #5: John Dorsey "The Ghost Of Hellen Keller"
Still available:
CP #3: John G. Hall "Me And My Broken Mouth"

Special offer you can get one of these chapbooks for five dollars or get all three of them for ten. That's right three for the price of two!
PO Box 1057
Port Salerno, Fl 34992
Make payments to Michael Grover

Who Owns The Poems?

Alright I know last time I posted a rant like this on OW hell broke loose so lets hope we can be a little more civil. I am not really saying anyone is wrong, I am just givin' us all something to think about.
Simultaneous submissions, how is it a pain in the ass to editors and the small press? As an editor in the small press I will say personally I could care less if this poem appears in one or even a hundred of other places. I mean who am I to say I have exclusive rights to someone elses poem? I guess it is up to the individual but I don't see the big deal. -MDG

Book Review Corner

Somebody Blew Up America & Other Poems by Amiri Baraka/House Of Nehesi Publishers: There was not a doubt in my mind that Amiri Baraka is the most dynamic Poet alive today, and this book confirms what I already knew. This is Baraka in typical style and form. He never misses a beat, he is not afraid to say what needs to be said, and as always he provokes thought. This is a short look at his work as the book is 55 pages and there are a couple of long pieces in it. Seven Poems and a rant in the back.
Everybody knows Somebody Blew Up America and what a briliant Poem that is. Why Is We Americans? is also a particularly briliant Poem. The best piece in here I have to say would have to be In Town which appeared as a track on a Roots album a few years ago. This Poem is brilinatly written and layered. Honestly it is one of the best Poems I have ever read. So I highly recomend if you read this that you go to amazon.com and order this book. It is well work it. -M.D.G.