phanaerozoic

Well, I finally got back to my plan to record and post readings from the literary works of folks whose work I admire. Today I am delving into perhaps the most lovely and lovingly produced book of ekphrastic poetry I know of – my good friend Robert Dean‘s book, The Aerialist Will Not Be Performing, published in 2020 by Paul Bowers‘ Turning Plow Press. Pat and I are proud that Bob Dean dedicated one of the poems, “Up on the Roof,” to us and so I chose to read that poem as well as Bob’s personal inscription to us. Thanks so much, Bob. The book is based on Bob’s responses to Stephen Schroeder’s impressive art work, each poem accompanied by the painting that inspired it.

Turning Plow Press: https://www.turningplowpress.com/

Stephen Schroeder’s Web Page: https://stevenschroeder.org/index.html#first

This is a recording made 3 October 2022 and read on Facebook by Roy J. Beckemeyer.

I have begun a series of postings of me reading from poetry/literary books that I admire and posting them on facebook. I decide to also post them on my blog for access by those who do not use facebook. So will start by copying those postings here.

I had been planning for some time now to begin posting simple readings of work by people whose writing I admire. My wife, Pat’s 80th birthday yesterday (Sept. 21, 2022) seemed a good reason to begin with her 2019 book of poems, Oh, I Pretend (Spartan Press). Since the book came out just at the beginning of the Covid pandemic and Pat’s bouts with serious illness during that same time period, she has been unable to get out and read from it.

So here are three poems by Pat Beckemeyer, from her first poetry book: “A Man Is Gone,” “Rain at the Golf Course,” and “Oh, I Pretend.”

To get a copy of the book, you may order online from Watermark Books & Cafe, or contact me by Facebook Messenger.

From a Facebook posting of 22 September, 2022. Roy Beckemeyer 4 October 2022.