Recent “now” stats reveal
a few hourly search trends
No impediments, on the last day of your life. The streetcar doesn’t idle at its signal, on the last day of your life. The rain doesn’t slant hard enough to slush your sandals, on the last day of your life. Nowhere does the sidewalk produce a reflection, on the last day of your life. Nowhere do the numerals above doors duplicate the year of your birth, on the last day of your life. Engines howl behind clouds, on the last day of your life. Engines buzz all about you—wet, thirsty, hoarse, reluctant—on the last day of your life. No impediments, on the last day of your life. Lights at eye level, lights above, lights failing, on the last day of your life. People in threes, on the last day of your life. The beige heavy stones of old downtown buildings, on the last day of your life. To the south, not visible, the systolic beat of the river, on the last day of your life. The space between an impulse and a correction, on the last day of your life. The twinge of a tendon.
On the occasion of the 250th post:
ReplyDeleteBlood And Gutstein has been an experiment in what I'd call "alt-humor", with a few serious posts here and there. According the "Blogger" stats -- the blog has never been more popular; a good time, therefore, to "go out on top."
While I'll stop short of saying "never another post", it will be at least a long while before I return. When I do, it may be here, at B.A.G., or a different blog project. My deep, sincere gratitude to people who have taken time to read this blog over the years: thank you!
Love, Dan Gutstein
Dear G:
ReplyDeleteWell, farewell BAG.
But I've always thought that many of your posts worked beautifully as poems & I think you should go back through the archive and put a ms. together. It could rock the multiverse.
Mr Winch, Sir:
ReplyDeleteI greatly appreciate these kind words, as well as the time you've taken to read the blog. May our paths cross soon and may we raise glasses of fine spirits together soon!
Cheers, G
I'm going to miss BAG; in the all-too-short time that I've been aware of its existence, I've enjoyed it immensely! I'll "keep tuned" for whatever you have up your sleeve . . . more poetry + improvised music? In any event, I look forward to the next time our paths cross and, in the meantime, be well and continue creating!
ReplyDeleteTed, that is high praise from you. Thank you. I sure hope we have improvisations in our future -- I've been grateful for the opportunity to hear you and Mike (and others) play, and for the opportunity to participate in the Lost Civilizations project. I'm confident that we shall do it again soon. Meantime, I will look forward to hanging out again in the near future. All best, Dan
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. B.A.G. On the last day of your life...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anders. Here's to another Poet's Tent in the near future! Cheers, Dan
ReplyDeleteBAG, I hardly knew you. Love, Casey
ReplyDeleteAnonymous reveals himself to be Casey. B.A.G. will miss your controversial comments. But in real life, we will drink a beer together soon and bemoan the lack of a Wilfried hat trick. Thanks for taking time to read the blog. -------------------------------------------Dan
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you could have any idea (stats aside) how many of your friends & fellow poets read this, each time you sent it out. I know I did. Hurrah, and it hopes it returns someday~
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate these kind words very much. I'm finding out that many more writers -- than I knew of -- read the blog. I'm grateful that you took time to read it, yourself. I am much obliged. Perhaps one day I'll get back to it. In the meantime, I hope that all's well with you and thanks for this comment.
Cheers, Dan
The proemtorial hybrid form evolved in B.A.G. was necessary feedback on hundreds of confusing situations, not just the minor irritants - inadequate beer pours, New Yorker poems, banana casseroles - but also the big stuff - many iterations of David v. Goliath. One "must" read Truthout but one "wants" to read B.A.G. One wants to smile. Congratulations on the fine work x 250.
ReplyDeleteHthr,
ReplyDeleteYour comments were always a source of great joy for me -- because they were flly-realized, flly-intact writings that one would stop and admire as, just, sheer invention, and what I would call "deeply gifted unparalleled pieces." I will sorely miss that exchange, and am forever grateful / greatful that you took time to read the blog. See you soon, I hope.
--Grtstn
Congratulations, Dan, on a fine blog. It was always funny and well written. I particularly like today's post.
ReplyDeleteJeff
Jeff, I am very grateful for your kind words. Thanks for taking your time over the years to read the blog. I'm a big fan of what you're doing at Altered Scale, and also very grateful to be included there. Dan
ReplyDelete