Playing the Form

by James Maughn

“Intriguing, playful, and illuminating, Playing the Form comes out of the dual daily practice of writing and marital arts. With a steady intensity, the poems explore how we navigate and are shaped by external forces —time and gravity but also architecture, habitat destruction and the free market. In dialogic structures, serial forms, and witty word play, this collection creates a wonderfully expansive approach to poetics and is a joy to read.” -Judy Halebsky, author of Sky=Empty and Tree Line (New Issues Press)

That settles it. You lift, and the room

lifts with you. Lock the song

in without a key:

The barest hour a day can spare,

and notes bespeak

a continuous gap to gather in.

So mark now a moving

target. Taut in secret, leave a

quiver in strictest confidence, arrow.

78 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

James Maughn lives in Santa Cruz, California, where he curates A New Cadence Poetry Series, a reading series dedicated to innovative poetries. He serves as the poetry co-editor of Ping•Pong, the international journal of arts and letters published by the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, CA.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So inspired by this form of poems about one's spiritual practice and writing, in this case Tai Chi. I tried to do something similar with my ashtanga vinyasa practice, and I can't get it to work, so impressive. Also this is just too good to try to emulate. Even without knowing anything about martial arts, the poetry of the poetry is just so tight.