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Rattle & Numb: Selected and New Poems, 1992-2019
Rattle & Numb is the prestige edition of the poetry of John Burroughs, State of Ohio Beat Poet Laureate 2019-2021, and master of the expressive beat voice for which he has toured the US in his evangelism.
"In Rattle and Numb: Selected and New Poems 1992-2019, John Burroughs has chosen some very strong pieces that propel the reader through a life-arc, while artfully revealing the person behind the poetry. His trademark wordplay is evident throughout, as in Ataraxis 'be bloom/be lilt/be boom/be wilt' and Out (Not Fade Away) 'But in spite of it I wrote on/rode on/right on/wry dawn/rite yawn.' Classic Burroughs poems—John Cage Uncaged and Engaged, Low Kay Shun, Lens—anchor the narrative, while new and newer poems create fresh mythologies, tackle the facelessness of Facebook, brood over the flow of rivers into Lake Erie, promise 'flaming postcards/from the conflagration.' Rattle and Numb is both, and neither; it is a confessional collection that promises and delivers 'to whomever it may concern.'" —Dianne Borsenik, author of Raga for What Comes Next, publisher at NightBallet Press
"The poems in John Burroughs' recent book Rattle & Numb (Venetian Spider Press, 2019) are culled from original work written from 1992-2019. The collection reflects the breadth, variety, and vision of his work, documenting an evolution of subjects and styles while at the same time presenting his unique voice. The poems range from haiku ('After Kao Ch’an,' 'Twilight'), spoken word ('Lens'), elegies ('Suite Melissa,' 'Unfounded'), linked with masterful and witty wordplay and homage to the Beat sutra ('souptra') tradition. Burroughs’ reputation as a performance poet is impressive, but one needn't be in his presence to experience his artistry. The poems hold their own on the page, too. Fingersnaps!"
—Beth Copeland, author of Transcendental Telemarketer
"In Rattle and Numb: Selected and New Poems 1992-2019, John Burroughs has chosen some very strong pieces that propel the reader through a life-arc, while artfully revealing the person behind the poetry. His trademark wordplay is evident throughout, as in Ataraxis 'be bloom/be lilt/be boom/be wilt' and Out (Not Fade Away) 'But in spite of it I wrote on/rode on/right on/wry dawn/rite yawn.' Classic Burroughs poems—John Cage Uncaged and Engaged, Low Kay Shun, Lens—anchor the narrative, while new and newer poems create fresh mythologies, tackle the facelessness of Facebook, brood over the flow of rivers into Lake Erie, promise 'flaming postcards/from the conflagration.' Rattle and Numb is both, and neither; it is a confessional collection that promises and delivers 'to whomever it may concern.'" —Dianne Borsenik, author of Raga for What Comes Next, publisher at NightBallet Press
"The poems in John Burroughs' recent book Rattle & Numb (Venetian Spider Press, 2019) are culled from original work written from 1992-2019. The collection reflects the breadth, variety, and vision of his work, documenting an evolution of subjects and styles while at the same time presenting his unique voice. The poems range from haiku ('After Kao Ch’an,' 'Twilight'), spoken word ('Lens'), elegies ('Suite Melissa,' 'Unfounded'), linked with masterful and witty wordplay and homage to the Beat sutra ('souptra') tradition. Burroughs’ reputation as a performance poet is impressive, but one needn't be in his presence to experience his artistry. The poems hold their own on the page, too. Fingersnaps!"
—Beth Copeland, author of Transcendental Telemarketer
- GenresPoetry
180 pages, Hardcover
Published August 20, 2019
About the author
John Burroughs
55 books385 followersJohn B. Burroughs of Cleveland served as the National Beat Poetry Foundation's 2022-2023 U.S. Beat Poet Laureate and 2019-2021 Ohio Beat Poet Laureate. He is the author of The Wrest of the Worthwhile: Unselected, Uncollected and New Poems, 1983-2023 (2023, Far Queue Press), Rattle and Numb: Selected Poems, 1992-2019 (2019, Venetian Spider Press), and more than a dozen poetry chapbooks including, most recently, Awash (2025, Pure Sleeze Press). From 2024 to 2026, he served as a Vice President of the Ohio Poetry Association.
A dynamic performer who has wowed audiences from Oakland to New York City, Maine to New Mexico, and myriad points in between, John has hosted numerous poetry events in the Greater Cleveland area including the Poetry+ series at Art on Madison in Lakewood, Monday at Mahall's, PoetryElyria, and (with Dianne Borsenik) the Lix and Kix Poetry Extravaganza and Snoetry: A Winter Wordfest. He helps maintain the Cleveland Poetics blog and Northeast Ohio literary calendar at clevelandpoetry.com. Since 2008, has served as the founding editor for Crisis Chronicles Press, publishing over one hundred twenty books by esteemed writers from around the world. Find him at www.crisischronicles.com.
Older bio: John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis, is a nationally touring poet and performer, born in West Virginia, raised in Elyria, Ohio, and currently residing in Greater Cleveland. John is the author of Dogging Catastrophe (2022, The Grind Stone), You Can't Trust It to Remain (2022, Between Shadows Press), Loss and Foundering [NightBallet Press, 2018], The Eater of the Absurd [NightBallet Press, 2012], the collaborative book Oct Tongue -1 (with Mary Weems, John Swain, Steven Smith, Lady, Shelley Chernin and Steve Brightman) [2014, Crisis Chronicles Press]. and nearly a dozen chapbooks including Beat Attitude [NightBallet, 2015], It Takes More Than Chance to Make Change [The Poet's Haven, 2013], Water Works [Recycled Karma Press, 2012], Electric Company [Writing Knights Press, 2011] and, with Doug Manson and Bree, Identity Crises [Green Panda Press, 2009]. John has also published Cheap and Easy Magazine, Songs in the Key of Cleveland: An Anthology of the 2013 Best Cleveland Poem Competition, #ThisISCLE: An Anthology of the 2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition, and the anti-censorship anthology Fuck Poetry.
John won his first poetry contest as a high school student in 1983. Around the turn of the millennium, John served as a playwright and occasional music director in residence for the Ministry of Theatre at Marion Correctional Institution. In 2007, his blog was ranked number 1 in several categories on MySpace when he abandoned it to create his own website. Subsequently, John won the first poetry slam he ever competed in; created PoetryElyria; formed Poets of Lorain County; has contributed irregularly to the Cleveland Poetics and Ohio Poetry Association blogs; served as the OPA's webmaster; has performed at bars, festivals, theaters, bookstores, libraries and galleries across the Midwest; and is perhaps most proud of his work (since 2008) as the founding editor of Crisis Chronicles Press.
A dynamic performer who has wowed audiences from Oakland to New York City, Maine to New Mexico, and myriad points in between, John has hosted numerous poetry events in the Greater Cleveland area including the Poetry+ series at Art on Madison in Lakewood, Monday at Mahall's, PoetryElyria, and (with Dianne Borsenik) the Lix and Kix Poetry Extravaganza and Snoetry: A Winter Wordfest. He helps maintain the Cleveland Poetics blog and Northeast Ohio literary calendar at clevelandpoetry.com. Since 2008, has served as the founding editor for Crisis Chronicles Press, publishing over one hundred twenty books by esteemed writers from around the world. Find him at www.crisischronicles.com.
Older bio: John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis, is a nationally touring poet and performer, born in West Virginia, raised in Elyria, Ohio, and currently residing in Greater Cleveland. John is the author of Dogging Catastrophe (2022, The Grind Stone), You Can't Trust It to Remain (2022, Between Shadows Press), Loss and Foundering [NightBallet Press, 2018], The Eater of the Absurd [NightBallet Press, 2012], the collaborative book Oct Tongue -1 (with Mary Weems, John Swain, Steven Smith, Lady, Shelley Chernin and Steve Brightman) [2014, Crisis Chronicles Press]. and nearly a dozen chapbooks including Beat Attitude [NightBallet, 2015], It Takes More Than Chance to Make Change [The Poet's Haven, 2013], Water Works [Recycled Karma Press, 2012], Electric Company [Writing Knights Press, 2011] and, with Doug Manson and Bree, Identity Crises [Green Panda Press, 2009]. John has also published Cheap and Easy Magazine, Songs in the Key of Cleveland: An Anthology of the 2013 Best Cleveland Poem Competition, #ThisISCLE: An Anthology of the 2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition, and the anti-censorship anthology Fuck Poetry.
John won his first poetry contest as a high school student in 1983. Around the turn of the millennium, John served as a playwright and occasional music director in residence for the Ministry of Theatre at Marion Correctional Institution. In 2007, his blog was ranked number 1 in several categories on MySpace when he abandoned it to create his own website. Subsequently, John won the first poetry slam he ever competed in; created PoetryElyria; formed Poets of Lorain County; has contributed irregularly to the Cleveland Poetics and Ohio Poetry Association blogs; served as the OPA's webmaster; has performed at bars, festivals, theaters, bookstores, libraries and galleries across the Midwest; and is perhaps most proud of his work (since 2008) as the founding editor of Crisis Chronicles Press.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 23, 2020
"Sunken funkin' telepumpkin
Tell a country bumpkin who I am
And then let him tell you
Both will tell it true
Though their perspectives seem contradictory
I'm born of hickory and rectory
Blind Bartimaeus and insightful inspectory
True tale and muddled myth
On an identical trajectory"
from the second poem in this collection, "John Cage Engaged and Uncaged", which I've heard Burroughs perform live quite a few times
finally started reading this gorgeous looking collection of poems - and very much looking forward to reading the rest in my slow reading phases
I'm tempted to already rate it, but I should probably wait until I read it all
Tell a country bumpkin who I am
And then let him tell you
Both will tell it true
Though their perspectives seem contradictory
I'm born of hickory and rectory
Blind Bartimaeus and insightful inspectory
True tale and muddled myth
On an identical trajectory"
from the second poem in this collection, "John Cage Engaged and Uncaged", which I've heard Burroughs perform live quite a few times
finally started reading this gorgeous looking collection of poems - and very much looking forward to reading the rest in my slow reading phases
I'm tempted to already rate it, but I should probably wait until I read it all
September 21, 2019
The stadium is full, Edge settles in, and the hits are coming with John Burroughs’ Rattle and Numb Selected and New Poems, 1992-2019. And it’s good to have a solid, hardback volume of new and selected work from Ohio’s Beat Poet Laureate, good to travel the distance from early “lullabies of liberty” (see “Bloodshot”), to the later, (we’ll assume later because it’s traditional to place the later work towards the end of the book, but this is not your traditional selected work delineating sources with labels of the books the poems came from but rather a greatest hits with extras and the fans know which are which), longer riffs on “Shamans and lizards,” (go to “Hampuy (“Come”)). So go back go in and enjoy the “gooey godliness,” (“Allen Ginsberg Wants You”), the “wormwood stashed behind the Zohar”(“Green Heart”), and the “wide web of geometry and pixelation” (“No Other”) and many more John Burroughs has to offer in his wildly fun and sometimes funny and musically mellifluous stage goat songs, 1992-2019.
November 11, 2019
This is a delightful book of beat poetry. The cover reflects the diversity of subject matter for John Burroughs poetry style. Some caused me to laugh. Others I reflected on the subject. This is one of the most enjoyable collection of poems, especially after having John read at a book store where I joyfully work.
Read
November 14, 2019Excellent poetry volume by an authentic voice. As the current Ohio Beat Poet Laureate, Burroughs unleashes his intellect and passion on a world drowning in mediocrity!
November 25, 2019
Rattle and Numb by John Burroughs
Ohio Beat Poet Laureate John Burroughs has a fantastic new book out via Venetian Spider Press, Rattle & Numb: Selected and New Poems, 1992 - 2019. Because it's filled with previously published work as well as new, you know you are getting an eclectic collection, a best of the best body of work. Contained inside you'll find many different styles, from haikus to freeverse, from humorous to political or deeply personal, crudely blunt or lyrical--all consistent with the poet's unique voice.
From "Being the Change is Not Enough"
Telling a hungry mother to be
the change she wishes to see
is like telling her to be the meal
she wants to eat and the money
that'll pay her family's heating bills
From "Tell a Vision"
Nearly everyone who passes down
Our busybody street pauses to stare at it
Assess its worth or lack thereof and then move on
From "Identity Crisis"
I want to give Peace a chance
But be able to accept that War
Is her partner in the cosmic dance
Accept that both are lies
That nothing in this universe is left to chance
From "Ataraxis"--after Equanimity by Dana Oldfather
simple complexity
complex simplicity
simply see
and be
equanimity
If you are familiar with Cleveland or the poetry and art scene of northeast Ohio, you'll recognize a lot of places and names, although it's not necessary to enjoy the poems. However, context does enhance them even more. As with most of his words, Burroughs' poems are meant to be heard, sounded out, even if only in your own head. That enables you to better catch the internal rhymes, homonyms, and other word play so present in all his work. The musicality of the language is evident in strong rhythms and beats.
So, in other words, this is a great book of poems. You'll love it. Go buy it.
Ohio Beat Poet Laureate John Burroughs has a fantastic new book out via Venetian Spider Press, Rattle & Numb: Selected and New Poems, 1992 - 2019. Because it's filled with previously published work as well as new, you know you are getting an eclectic collection, a best of the best body of work. Contained inside you'll find many different styles, from haikus to freeverse, from humorous to political or deeply personal, crudely blunt or lyrical--all consistent with the poet's unique voice.
From "Being the Change is Not Enough"
Telling a hungry mother to be
the change she wishes to see
is like telling her to be the meal
she wants to eat and the money
that'll pay her family's heating bills
From "Tell a Vision"
Nearly everyone who passes down
Our busybody street pauses to stare at it
Assess its worth or lack thereof and then move on
From "Identity Crisis"
I want to give Peace a chance
But be able to accept that War
Is her partner in the cosmic dance
Accept that both are lies
That nothing in this universe is left to chance
From "Ataraxis"--after Equanimity by Dana Oldfather
simple complexity
complex simplicity
simply see
and be
equanimity
If you are familiar with Cleveland or the poetry and art scene of northeast Ohio, you'll recognize a lot of places and names, although it's not necessary to enjoy the poems. However, context does enhance them even more. As with most of his words, Burroughs' poems are meant to be heard, sounded out, even if only in your own head. That enables you to better catch the internal rhymes, homonyms, and other word play so present in all his work. The musicality of the language is evident in strong rhythms and beats.
So, in other words, this is a great book of poems. You'll love it. Go buy it.
October 10, 2019
John Burroughs is the Beat Poet Laureate of Ohio, but he is so much more than Beat. This collection makes that fact excitingly clear. Yes, Burroughs is Beat, but his rhythms go beyond. He is a hybrid of Kerouac and Corso, matched with the best of the Nuyorican poets. His poetry has the fluidity and rawness of a Miguel Pinero. Joy and the depths Burroughs navigates with a mastery. He is a poet's poet. He is beyond Beat and beautiful.
November 11, 2019
Rattle & Numb. What can I say, John is a great person, a very creative performance poet who personifies the New Beat Generation. "I don't want to live in vain", says it all. I recommend Rattle & Numb because it is SAGE!
June 30, 2025
Suddenly gets really good, just a few pages in. Don’t think I’ve connected so much with another writer since Kerouac. Maybe because they’re both spilling their souls and not worrying about making a mess. The Beat influence is clear enough, but this is stream of consciousness at its most lucid, drunken meanderings at their most insightful. Too many favourite lines, too many favourite poems. You’ll just have to read it yourself.
April 18, 2023
Electric.
November 12, 2020
There is always the challenge to readers of poems heard in strong live performance to challenge the page work as print poems rather than transcriptions. This collection does not disappoint. Burroughs brings a strong understanding of structure to his work; there are many fully crafted pieces, and should not be seen as "mere" beat musings. These are heartbeat poems, which have their own life on the page. Whimsy and rage, like the proverbial lion and lamb, find their places together here. Much cool stuff. Snap.
December 30, 2020
many original juxtapositions and a number of them in brilliant verses
Here is one I am reflecting on Re: 2020. It is a wee bit more morbid than the proverbial 'silver lining.'
from, Piecing It Together
"so I often fell like I'm sinking
but if I look at the world upside down
which from a broader perspective is
no different than right side up
i see that as much as i'm sinking i'm also rising
and so are you"
Here is one I am reflecting on Re: 2020. It is a wee bit more morbid than the proverbial 'silver lining.'
from, Piecing It Together
"so I often fell like I'm sinking
but if I look at the world upside down
which from a broader perspective is
no different than right side up
i see that as much as i'm sinking i'm also rising
and so are you"
February 14, 2022
I love this book of poems by Ohio Poet Laureate (2019-2021) John Burroughs! The poems are, by turns, sharp...tender...irreverent...funny...poignant...breathtaking. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews