New Poem

Advice

the young man stood reproving me:
you see this is the age of the asshole
you have to be an asshole to get ahead
everyone is an asshole
I had to learn how to be an asshole
then I had to learn how to be a bigger asshole
I have a master’s degree in asshole
the only thing you can trust
is that everyone is an asshole
you didn’t teach me to be an asshole
your friends aren’t assholes
those old beat soldiers saw the asshole as an old comrade
the academic old men gloried in the products of the asshole
reams of old man shit fill the libraries
Dr. Williams would say today that
there are a lot of assholes out there
the wrinkled hole, the nether eye, the backdoor, the crab like joker,
no talent texting driver
parking space grubber
the one your lover always leaves you for
bully neighbor
if you are not an asshole – you are an asshole
it takes one to know one
I am learning to be a real hole in the ass
your ears are little hairy holes like your asshole
every word I say is going into your asshole
and every word you say from now on
is your asshole talking through you
that new: job, book contract, lover
awaits you
you lucky assholes



Bob Rosenthal
December 26, 2011

Sketches By Sharmy Pandey

Graffiti Kolkata # Volume - 1 # Jan 2012

My guest editing stint with Prathamoto ends. So all the writings selected for this magazine along with the cover painting now will be included in our new print zine Graffiti Kolkata which comes to you from the pavements of Kolkata and it will be out of press within a weeks time. The volume - 1 features poetry by heart-hugging, experimental writers of the world.... Adam Henry Carriere,Craig Scott, Catfish Mc Daris, Gary Cummiskey, Doug Mathewson, Henry Denander, Kyle Allan, Barbara Sue Mink Spalding, Yannis Livadas, Sayak Ghosh, Kevin M Hibsman, Jim Wittenberg, Rajarshi Chattopadhyay, Misti Rainwater Lites, Arunabh Banerjee, Subhankar Das, Falguni Roy, Michael Mc Aloran,John Swain, Lynn Alexander, Sharmy Pandey... Spread the word....

A new poetry chap book

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/by-the-banks-of-the-ajoy-jaideb-vanishes-into-the-blue/18769743?showPreview

After School Special

Even at nineteen, Bavie knew “broken hearts” were just for kids.
Softly humming as she burns her cloths from last night,
flicking her light blade hand-to-hand.
Then, with a harsh sudden snicker, she whispers too loud,
“Who cares where it all splatters!”

by-Doug Mathewson

Graffiti Kolkata Broadside # Issue 19 # October 2011

Graffiti Kolkata Broadside # Issue 18 # September 2011