Michele McDannold, Collected Poems 2005-2025, 2025 Roadside Press. Distributed by Magical Jeep available on Amazon, 294 pages $20-
As I began reading this substantial volume of hard-hitting, direct to your bloodstream poems, I could almost hear that country and western dude who used to yell, “Are you ready for some football?!” in the background. After a while, I learned that mute is a wonderful invention, and watching football isn’t all it’s cracked up to be (that’s another story, for another place) but the idea is here, “Are you ready for some smashmouth, in your face Action?!” Well, what this book needs is someone to yell, “Are you ready for some Poetry??!!” yelled as if you were at some spoken words festival with a full accompaniment of jazz men in the background, a chorus of soul sisters for voice enhancements and a huge spotlight to focus intently on the reader. Ok, yes, I exaggerate, Michele doesn’t need the accompaniment as she does fine all by herself on the page or in front of a mic as we learn on page 2,
this poetry is not recommended
for the young or bright-eyed
not recommended
for those weak in the stomach
or head
this poetry is not recommended
for the high-brow
sissified
punk bitches
who would turn a phrase
just to make you feel stupid
poetry is not recommended (period)
if you want to bury your head in the sand
and pretend the world is dying under corruption
we have a voice
(from “not recommended”)
What this poetry is for is to tell it like it is, is writing from the heart, the body, the deepest parts of soul. It’s no bullshit poetry. We need more of that.
Alan Catlin worked for the better part of 34 years in his unchosen profession as a barman in and around the greater Albany, NY area. He has published dozens of chapbooks and full-length books focusing on his work and the people he met while laboring in the trenches of bar warfare. Alan is the editor at Misfit Magazine.
