Three Poems
WHISTLER AMERICAN
I found out about a mistake by Pound:
Malatesta never raped a priest
Hawthorne said of a thousand pictures exhibited together:
The worst possible experience
Like a thousand open books and no time to read
Putting on an act
And making life parallel to art
Well, neither are admirable but
Neither are avoidable
Realism is just another word
The delicacy of the hand goes along
Sex and alcohol as necessary evils is a childish notion
Pride and a concept of the soul as somehow insulted when not properly fully
coddled and revered
For art’s sake I pray you
Relax and let us entertain you
Even if it fails to equal
The dance of the seven veils
MORE LIONS
The lions in the zoo may be
Quite satisfied, what with
Three squares and dental
A pair of males in the enclosure
One above, watching watchfully
The other pacing in circles below
A father concerned about a wayward son?
A son worried for a demented father?
THE UNDERGROUND
In memory of Paul Blackburn
The Washington Metro is not sexy
People read books like
The Secret History of Neo-Liberalism
They take calls from their realtor
The floor is a Pollock-inspired linoleum
It used to be industrial carpet perhaps
This represents progress
Occasionally tourist families include
A teenage daughter with legs that go all the way up
But the suits with ID lanyards outnumber them
The air conditioning usually works
The robo-voice announcing the closing of the doors
Has a vague Philadelphia accent
Stations are uniform and brutalist
Tall electronic turnstiles barely deter fare-jumpers
Yes there are still teenagers sprawled on the seats
The layout is not designed to maximize floor space
You expect to find a seat
During the pandemic you expected to find a row to yourself
At rush hour it gets crowded but never so much
That the masses are crammed together in heat and sweat
As I said the aircon usually works
So much has been lost
Without anything having changed
Simon Schuchat
Simon Schuchat has lived in New York, Chicago, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow, just to name a few. His translations of Chinese and Russian prose and poetry have appeared in various anthologies and magazines, as has his own poetry, which has also been published in five collections, most out of print except for latest, THE CENTOS OF SIMON SCHUCHAT, from Aerialedge Books in DC. According to Kathy Acker, “his poetry doesn’t tell you stuff: it is consciousness.” Soviet Texts, his translations of Moscow conceptualist poet Dmitri Prigov, came out in 2020 from Ugly Duckling Presse.
William Darkdrac
William Darkdrac is a visual artist specializing in the airbrush technique, whose work focuses on exploring light as a metaphor for spirituality and human connection. His Normal People series features ethereal human figures radiating luminosity, set against contemporary urban landscapes. These scenes, often framed by moving cars, nighttime skies, and glowing reflections, capture a contrast between the mundanity of urban spaces and the transcendence of the intangible.
William's technical approach combines the meticulous detail of airbrushing with an artistic sensibility that prioritizes atmosphere and emotion. His ability to play with color, shadows, and texture creates images that seem to hover between reality and imagination, evoking a sense of mystery and nostalgia. The luminous figures that dominate his compositions not only serve as visual focal points but also symbolize hope, introspection, and humanity amidst the chaos of modern life.
Inspired by the dynamics of urban living, human connections, and the symbolism of light, William seeks to convey a universal message that resonates with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Each piece invites the viewer to pause, contemplate, and reflect on the interaction between technology, nature, and the spiritual essence of individuals in an increasingly fast-paced world.