Several Things

I can't believe it's Sunday already. The weekend has flown by, and as is so often the case, I didn't get around to half the things I'd hoped to do. My father would say I have too many irons in the fire, and he's right. I'm interested in too many things. Take books. Many people happily read one genre, maybe two. I tend to read everything, except maybe chick lit and westerns. I'm an avid poetry reader, especially of contemporary poetry, but also some of the greats of the past. I also love to read about the craft of writing and bios of writers who intrigue me. Then there are the novels, and again, my tastes vary. I am as content with a good suspense/mystery as I am with literary or mainstream fiction. Toss in some horror and erotica now and then as well. Several nonfiction topics interest me, so my books in that category include ones about animal companions and memoirs of interesting people (or not so interesting people who had extraordinary adventures). Let's not forget plays...and children's books... and...well, you see what I mean.

Obama had an amazing night, winning in all the states that held primaries and caucuses. Maine will vote today, then the election comes to my neck of the woods, as Maryland, DC, and Virginia hold primaries on Tuesday.


New poems are up in several places. "The Livelihood of Crows" appears in the new issue of Stirring. Three poems, "Valley Notes," "Tuesday Afternoon," and "The Proof," appear in the new issue of Ghoti. "Eviction," one of my more edgier poems, is up at Zygote in my Coffee.

Super Tuesday

Oh, boy, do I ever need more coffee. I'm thinking maybe an IV hookup to Starbucks' French Roast would do the trick. I stayed up way too late watching the primary results and rooting for Barack Obama. The tension is killing me. I'm sure there are advantages to a long race, but I'd like to soon see a clear winner emerge. Maybe then I could actually get back to work on my novel. Meanwhile, I'm glued to CNN.

I make it no secret that I'm a loyal Democrat. I don't have any real preferences when it comes to the Republican race. I feel a little sorry for Mitt Romney because I don't believe a Mormon has a chance in the South, where evangelical types often view that faith as a cult. Huckabee is just off the charts, and I don't know what to make of a person who dismisses evolution. I mean, does he believe in gravity, the laws of relativity, etc? John McCain keeps vowing to follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell. Really, is someone stopping him from embarking on the mission now? I do know that I'm tired of his overuse of the phrase, "My friends," which he inserts in every third sentence. I know he's old and the Arizona sun is hot, but he can do better than to sound like a used car salesman, my friends. Don't you agree, my friends?

I did manage to finish proofing Tomato Girl. Hubby is off to ship it back to Algonquin. It's very exciting to see the manuscript evolve into an actual book.

One of my poems, "The Livelihood of Crows" is up at Stirring.

Red Glove in Mslexia

I just received my complimentary issue of Mslexia, the UK based magaizne for women writers. I'm honored that novelist Stella Duffy selected my poem, "Red Glove," for inclusion in this issue. Duffy wrote,"...the strength of tone in Jayne Pupek's 'Red Glove' attracted me enormously with a very clear setting, a concisely conveyed character, but also with an intensity many writers might spend several chapters trying to achieve."


RED GLOVE

A woman comes into the bookstore
late for the reading. Already the poet stands
at the podium, book open, his voice moving precipitously
over the page as if it were bruised skin and each word
printed there not a word at all, but a wound.
The late arrival takes the seat next to me,
no greeting or nod, she is already absorbing the poem,
the longing inside her stronger than anything
the poet might say. Her name may be Susan or Carol,
or even Isabelle, but she is just as likely to answer
to dirty floors, coupons, Clorox, aluminum foil.
She wears her life in the strands of hair
coming loose from the rubber band
looped around it, and in the man's shirt
drooping off her shoulders.
I smell her history in the cigarette smoke lifting off her coat
when she moves to hang the garment
across the chair's curved back.
Her needs show in her cheap shoes, discolored teeth,
and dark half-moons deepening her eyes.
And here I find the proof of her longing.
It is in the single red glove
clutched in her hand, and in the way she wrings it
like a cloth soaked with blood.



Jayne Pupek

Poems up at Anti-

Two of my poems, "Census of Seagulls" and "Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio," appear in the first issue of Anti-. This is an exciting new journal. Check out submission guidelines for upcoming issues!

A Busy Time

Whew---where does the time go? It seems only moments ago that I was placing presents under the tree, and now, January is almost gone.

This week has been especially full with the release of my poetry book, Forms of Intercession (Mayapple Press). If you haven't bought a copy yet, stop reading this and get thyself over to Amazon.com or Mayapple's webpage and order one now! Better yet, buy two. Oh, what the heck, why not three? Lol!

In between sending out review copies and spreading the word about my new book, I also completed an author questionnaire for Algonquin Books and sent them a photo. My son took the photo. I told him I'd raise his allowance if he made me look twenty instead of (gasp) forty-five. Considering how hard he laughed, I should make that child pick up pop bottles for the rest of his life. (When I was a girl, collecting soda pop bottles that had been tossed into ditches was a way to earn some extra cash.)

I've been working on my poem and letter for billet-doux, the love letter project to be released by Dancing Girl Press. My parents visited this weekend and helped me stuff the envelopes. Now I'm waiting for the scented silk rose petals and vintage stickers to arrive. Watch for the finished project around Valentines Day.

I've also been keeping up with the political news as much as I can. I watched the Democratic debate last night. More squabbling than I like to hear, but I think it is to be expected with the race so close. Obama definitely needs to win South Carolina to move forward in this contest. I think he can pull it off. I heard that Stephen King is endorsing Barack Obama, too. I'm telling you, great minds think alike. Lol!

After school today, my oldest son is going to register to vote. He once asked me if "Daddy votes Democrat, too." My answer: "I'm still married to him, aren't I?" Lol!

And last, but not least, I have two new poems up at Thieves Jargon.

THE BOOKS ARE HERE!!!!!!

Although Forms of Intercession (Mayapple Press) isn't technically released until January 22, my copies arrived today. I'm thrilled--more than thrilled! How much champagne can a 90lb woman drink before she drowns in the bubbles? Lol!

This and That

Not such a good night for Barack Obama, but he gave a powerful speech, and I look forward to seeing how he does in South Carolina. As the mother of an African American son, I'm especially curious about the black vote. The African American community understandably loves the Clintons, but I'm wondering how willing black leaders will be to campaign against Barrack Obama?

This has nothing to do with either politics or writing, but I have to say that I cringe every time the AOL news hightlights show Donald Trump criticizing Angelina Jolie. Not only is Jolie arguably one of the most beautiful women on the planet, she is an Academy award winning actress, the mother of four lovely children, a devoted humanitarian, and she gets to sleep with Brad Pitt. Come on, now. The Donald must be inhaling too much hairspray; the resulting brain damage is all too apparent. Oh, to be both rich and pathetic in one lifetime.

Some recent poems are up online:

Press1

Mannequin Envy

qarrtsiluni