[2QI]≡ Libro Flies Lannan Literary Selections Michael Dickman 9781556593772 Books

Flies Lannan Literary Selections Michael Dickman 9781556593772 Books

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Flies Lannan Literary Selections Michael Dickman 9781556593772 Books

Smart and incredibly evocative while superbly understated. Similar in tone but polar opposite in style of his brother, Matthew Dickman. These two have quickly become two of my favorite working poets.


Tags : Flies (Lannan Literary Selections) [Michael Dickman] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <DIV> Hilarity transfiguring all that dread, manic overflow of powerful feeling, zero at the bone—<I>Flies</I> renders its desolation with singular invention and focus and figuration: the making of these poems makes them exhilarating. —James Laughlin Award citation Reading Michael [Dickman] is like stepping out of an overheated apartment building to be met,Michael Dickman,Flies (Lannan Literary Selections),Copper Canyon Press,1556593775,American poetry.,American poetry;21st century.,Poetry.,21st century,American - General,American Poetry,Poetry,Poetry American General,Poetry by individual poets

Flies Lannan Literary Selections Michael Dickman 9781556593772 Books Reviews

Michael Dickman writes his prolonged poems with the skill of a court stenographer. What seems to begin as a short poem carries on for a few pages until the near childlike fantasy he shared is played out to the point where we the read believes him - whether it is true or imagined. He snips words out the air and pastes them together, meaningfully, toying with our visualizations of what he is constructing and then knocking over the toy block castle . 'Shaving My Father's Face' is a recollection of childhood made present by an act, in 'Home' he defines heaven for us ('In heaven/ ants are the doormen/to the flies...'). The creatures of title of the book - FLIES - alight in many of his poems as points of fascination and we're never sure why.

Some examples of the fascinating works contained in this volume include
ALL SAINTS I made the mask/ from scratch/ also the wings/ all by myself/ in the shape of a sick child/ or newly cut/grass/ It was hard to stand up at first because the wings were so heavy but/ I'm getting more and more used to them/ More and more ready/ Dripping/ waves of silver paint/ they shine like/ the blind/ But the beak is real/ A real beak/ instead of a mouth/ I brought the new/ body to school/ wrapped in tinfoil/ but left it in the coat closet/ in a backpack with/ my brain/ It was dark in there and scary and there were woods that no one had/ ever mentioned before and probably/ never will again/ I was called on all the time/ despite staring out the window/ as f the playground were/ on fire/ Stand closer/No one cared/ Stand closer/ The flames licked the blades/We will hold hands like children and sit on the floor in a large circle/ with our legs crossed in the late style of/deathlessness/ Waiting for /satori/ What I wanted to show you/ has disappeared/ through a hole/ in the back of my/ head/ What I wanted to tell you/ If you pee your pants on the floor/ you still have to sit there/ on the spot where/ you peed/ A halo/ seeping into the rug.'

Dickman's older brother committed suicide and this is how he coped
DEAD BROTHER SUPERHERO
You don't have to be
afraid
anymore
His super-outfit is made form handfuls of oil and garbage blood and pinned together by stars
Flying
around the room
like a
mosquito
Drinking all the blood
or whatever we
have
to save us
who
need to be saved

I whispered 'To the rescue'
and sat
on the dead edge
of my bed
all night and
all morning
My feet did not touch the floor
My heart raced
I counted my breath like small white sheep and pinned my eyes open and stared at the door
Any second now
Any second
now

He saved my brain
from its burning
building
He stopped and started the bullet in my heart
with his teeth
Just like that
He looked down from outer space through all the clouds birds dropping like weights
He look out
from the center of the earth
through the fire
he was
becoming
in the doorway
and closed his eyes
his cape sweeping
the floor

Dickman pushes real emotions into surreal casts that can act out his fears and joys and frailties without ever leaving his safely guarded memory. This is poetry to read over and over, splashing around in the gifts of one who knows how to speak to us. Grady Harp, July 11
A death too soon is always a tragedy. A death too soon in the family changes the family forever. And what if that death too soon is a suicide?

The suicide of an older brother is one the primary themes of Michael Dickmann's "Flies," a collection of spare, sparse, concisely worded poems that create the ravaging of one's memory and soul in the face of a brother's death. The poems become a narrative means of resolution, and one means Dickmann employs to do that is the language and imagery of faith and religion.

In the very first poem, "Dead Brother Superhero," he evokes both a typical childhood memory - playing a superhero - and the need for salvation

You don't have to be
afraid

anymore

His super-outfit is made from handfuls of oil and garbage blood and
pinned together by stars

Flying
around the room
like a

mosquito

Drinking all the blood
or whatever we
have

to save us
who

need to be saved.

The poems move forward - and there's a definite motion forward, toward some yet undefined moment or goal or idea - until reaching a series of 14 poems entitled "Stations," a poetic rendering of the Stations of the Cross. It is in this series that a kind of confrontation happens, for the poems combine the sacred and profane, anger with hope, frustration with resistance with surrender. Consider the fifth poem in the series

What does the little cross want with us anyway?

To grind us into diamonds

To make us dance

To tear our arms off and throw them out into the yard like sticks

I need help carrying these sticks

The diamonds

Dancing

The little cross hunches in the corner and stares and drools
coughing up white petals

It never takes its hundred eyes off us

When we feint to the left the little cross feints to the left

To the right to the right

When we call to our mothers

The little cross answers.

Dickmann moves ultimately to resolution, and achieves grace, the grace of coming home and achieving peace with one's own soul. Yes, a death too soon changes everything, but survivors can work their way home.

"Flies" is a remarkable collection of poetry. It won the James Laughlin Award of the Academy of American Poets, which is given to support and commend a poet's second book. (His first collection, "The End of the West," was published in 2009.) His poem "Returning to Church," not in this collection, was selected by Narrative Magazine for the 2008 Narrative Prize.
This book of poems by Micheal Dickman is a wonderful read for all people who enjoy works that are about real life experiences. What drew me to this book originally was that Micheal is a twin and so am I. It was awesome to see that connection in his works in this book. I am excited for their new book to come out!!!
I was thrilled to read this book. My only complaint was that it could of been longer, but I still will give it 5 stars because it is an excellent book. Michael Dickman has a truly original voice, and there is not even a hint of literary elitism. This is a dark gem filled with raw language that is simple but effective. I highly recommend it.
These poems are surreal but tediously so; random fragments with an occasional emergent theme (primarily the suicide of the author's brother), but not particularly moving or impressive as poetry, alas.
I want to be like Mike. Nice work. great style. Second book with a good, lucid thematic concern - Michael has a great landscape - an wonderful muse and clean, clear style.
Smart and incredibly evocative while superbly understated. Similar in tone but polar opposite in style of his brother, Matthew Dickman. These two have quickly become two of my favorite working poets.