Say David, I am really glad you are publishing John Bradley's book--
he's my good friend, but I'd still think he was the best American
prose poet working today even if he wasn't my good friend. And I
know he is very funny in his poetry, though in person he's not very
funny, really, which is one of the reasons we probably get along so
well-- three or four Saturdays out of the year, he and I sit there in
Sullivan's Bar in DeKalb, Illinois, earnestly exchanging grim
aphorisms about the state of poetry in America today. By the time
we bid adieu, we know we are better and more important human
beings than all the farmers in the bar.
But anyway, to get to my point, I'm curious about your mention at
Poetics that his is the "funniest book yet" that Pavement Saw has
published. I've seen lots of the books you do, and you've done two
or three good ones, but with the exception of some of Mark
duCharme's hard and witty work, what have you ever published that
is "funny"? Nearly everything I've seen from you folks over there in
Ohio land is absolutely humorless.
Therefore, I am happy you are finally publishing a poet deserving of
the honorific "funny." Hopefully, this will mark an upward turn for
Pavement Saw!
I'm sending this also to Poetryetc, since I want people to know
about John Bradley's funny book. And ubuweb, since those bionic
androids also seem bereft of any sense of humor.
best,
Kent
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