Synopsis/blurb...
13 poems written between 1990-2021 by author, songwriter and playwright Mark SaFranko. A5 size. Printed on recycled paper. Limited to 30 copies.
Each one comes with a numbered, mini broadside, printed on high quality linen "kraft cappuccino" card.
Another short read I slipped into the month to keep the scoreboard ticking over in my yearly reading challenge - and a bit of a diversion for me - a wee collection of poetry.
I usually struggle with this medium as I lack the confidence to trust my instincts when trying to decipher meaning. I suppose at the end of the day, it means what I think it means and if that differs from the author's intention or someone else's comprehension, well big deal.
I'm a fan of Mark SaFranko's books, though I've not read as many as I should have. And I've enjoyed his short stories when I've come across them on the www. I've not listened to his music, or seen his acting in film, or until now read his poetry.
A baker's dozen here. All quite brief and concise.
We have...
THE SIMPLEST THOUGHT
THE COST
TRAPPED
THE NOOSE
NEPTUNE RETROGRADE
THE BLACK VOID
AMERICAN DREAMS
MILLENIUM GENIUS
TIME TRAVEL
THE REASON I QUIT DRINKING
A NEW YORK DOG
TELEPHONE POLE
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU
Mortality, economics, Capitalism, the nature of creativity, aging, unfulfilled ambitions and disappointment and a reconciliation, 21c fakery and pretension, memories, alcoholism and temperance, sunshine days and shiny women, lost youth and new found invisibility, Trumpism with rage vs indifference or more likely jaded resignation. All pretty much set in New York.
Food for thought.
Read - March, 2022
Published - 2021
Page count - 18
Source - purchased copy
Format - chapbook
I always respect an author who tries different forms of writing like that, Col. And I think you have a very good point about poetry. In the end, it means whatever you get from it. I think it can add an interesting depth and perspective if you know the author's intent, but as you say, what it means to you is what it means to you.
ReplyDeleteMany strings to SaFranko's bow, Margot. He's multi-talented. I think I got something from all of these pieces and yeah, I'm happy to go with my interpretation!
DeleteFour that I enjoyed by Mark SaFranko would have to be God Bless America, Lounge Lizard, Hating Olivia and Nowhere Near Hollywood. Liked some of his short pieces as well. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteAuthor is treated with tremendous respect in Europe. Here? Not so much. I believe the right amount of PR would solve it. Problem is, promotion usually requires deep pockets, which the average writer does not have access to; thus, way too often, way too many good writers get buried by marquee names with lots of money behind them pushing their titles.
Am always happy to see a non-monied scribe like Philip Elliott break through now and then (with a novel like Porno Valley). Kudos. K.A., author of the Eddie "Doc" Holiday noir series.