BEAT to a PULP #123: Two Poems by Gerald So

Mr. So on his wonderful contributions:

Common grammatical wisdom says nouns are more solid than adjectives; however, my poem "Security" comes from my noticing how the suffix "-ity" turns firm adjectives like "real", "sane", and "secure" into the dubious "reality", "sanity," and "security".

My second poem, "Life Sentence", is a more overt riff on language where I try to pack various end punctuation marks--ellipsis, exclamation, period, dash--with metaphorical meaning.

Gerald So is at BEAT to a PULP with Two Poems.

Yvette Vickers

The mummified body of former PLAYBOY playmate, star of 'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman' found in home.

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) - Trailer

Wikipedia

Rex Stout: An American Wit and Propagandist

Robert Hughes article on Stout at the Criminal Element.

Ten Years Later

Ten years ago this September I drove back into DC fifteen minutes after the attack. I will not forget that scene or my co-worker's wife who lost all her fingers from severe burns. He said to me, "My wife loves to crochet." Still chills me to remember.

If Marilyn Could Find the Time to Read Ulysses...

I was told as a kid, "You make time for what you love." I forgot who told me but I’m betting it was my mom. (Sidebar: she was born on the same day and year as the lady in the picture.) The reason I bring it up is my current pet peeve is folks who say they can’t find the time to read. They usually mention that chestnut after they spot me with a paperback or Kindle in my hand. I’m, of course, polite but inside I’m thinking: I have a day job, baby daughter, writer, run a webzine, and blog a few times a week. Yet I still find the time because I love to read. True, it's harder these days but usually I slip it in by carrying a book with me in the car for idle moments and planning an extra half hour before bedtime for a couple of chapters. Bottom line, I make time. These non-readers watch endless hours of tv, surf the net, gaming, or whatever they truly love which is fine... just don't try to tell me there's no time because that's silly.

Congratulations Are in Order

Congrats to Matthew C. Funk for winning the 2011 Spinetingler Award for Best Short Story on the Web. TIMES PAST was featured at Alec Cizak's top All Due Respect.

Great job, both!

BEAT to a PULP #122: You Keyed My Car by Fred Zackel

Poetry week (dark, of course) at BEAT to a PULP! Our schedule is as follows:

Today: "You Keyed My Car" by Fred Zackel

Tuesday: Two Poems by Gerald So

Thursday: "Ghost" by Keith Snyder

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From poet and contributor, Gerald So:

I'm honored to be part of a special week of hard-hitting poetry at BTAP and to accept David's invitation to do a writeup on each poem.

Fred Zackel kicks off the week with "You Keyed My Car." In just its title, I hear metal on metal. I've always stumbled on the aftermath, the cowardly/brazen scrape. The world-weary speaker in Fred's poem doesn't just spot a keyer in the act. Moments before, he sees through to the punk's soul.

Here is Mr. Zackel at BEAT to a PULP with "You Keyed My Car."