What do you think?
Rate this book
OCHO #22
Ocho #22: Dear America, Don't Be My Valentine
The call for this edition of OCHO went out as a response to several political events in the Fall-Winter season of 2008-2009. The first, a moment in the Vice Presidential debates early November between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden, in which both candidates seemed to befriend the gay community while denouncing our right to marry. What an awful laughter relieved both the candidates and the audience, as if everyone were too embarrassed to discuss the validity of a gay relationship in the national discussion. Then, the passing of propositions 8 in California, 102 in Arizona, and Amendment 2 in Florida changing state constitutions and making it illegal for gays to marry. This historic election brought with it the disappointment and dissolution of 18,000 marriages and families directly affected by the Prop. 8 vote in California and, in Arkansas, an amendment making it illegal for gay couples to adopt.....
- GenresPoetry
104 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2009
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 14, 2010
A Very Powerful Collection of Poems in Response to Oppression
OCHO #22 is one of the finest collections of poetry published by Didi Menendez in her OCHO Series , MiPOesias Magazine. It begins with a strikingly colorful cover well designed and produced by IM Bess and continues from the first to the last page with pungent poems edited by Miguel Murphy. The curatorial theme was that of frustration with the climate of same sex privileges (or lack of same) and each of the poets selected had lessons to share that deserve wide attention. An example is a poem by the very fine young poet Jee Leong Koh as follows:
LEAVE WITH NOTHING
Who needs ten shirts when two will do, one on the back,
the other in the wash? Who needs five pairs of jeans?
Who, in his right mind, needs two pairs of underwear?
Too many! Who goes to the laundromat in briefs?
I have lived with little, I will live with less.
These books, accumulated like a secret vice,
seduced even the saint, and so must be reduced
to ten, no, five, no, two, no, no, how about one?
None. So, when a man needs you, he says, to go,
same man who needed you a year ago to stay,
you won't leave with a rucksack and three shopping bags,
but fill your empty pockets with your empty hands.
You have lived with little, you will live with less.
Welcome, welcome, welcome to your new address.
There are two longer poems by the well-respected Charles Jensen and two long and strange poems by Matthew Hittinger, but these, then, are only three of the thirty poets, male and female, in this very solid collection. Here is food for thought, philosophical musings and poems of anger that make the title of this issue DEAR AMERICA DON'T BE MY VALENTINE! very poignant. This is a tremendously impressive volume of poetry and Miguel Murphy certainly has an eye for talent.
Grady Harp
OCHO #22 is one of the finest collections of poetry published by Didi Menendez in her OCHO Series , MiPOesias Magazine. It begins with a strikingly colorful cover well designed and produced by IM Bess and continues from the first to the last page with pungent poems edited by Miguel Murphy. The curatorial theme was that of frustration with the climate of same sex privileges (or lack of same) and each of the poets selected had lessons to share that deserve wide attention. An example is a poem by the very fine young poet Jee Leong Koh as follows:
LEAVE WITH NOTHING
Who needs ten shirts when two will do, one on the back,
the other in the wash? Who needs five pairs of jeans?
Who, in his right mind, needs two pairs of underwear?
Too many! Who goes to the laundromat in briefs?
I have lived with little, I will live with less.
These books, accumulated like a secret vice,
seduced even the saint, and so must be reduced
to ten, no, five, no, two, no, no, how about one?
None. So, when a man needs you, he says, to go,
same man who needed you a year ago to stay,
you won't leave with a rucksack and three shopping bags,
but fill your empty pockets with your empty hands.
You have lived with little, you will live with less.
Welcome, welcome, welcome to your new address.
There are two longer poems by the well-respected Charles Jensen and two long and strange poems by Matthew Hittinger, but these, then, are only three of the thirty poets, male and female, in this very solid collection. Here is food for thought, philosophical musings and poems of anger that make the title of this issue DEAR AMERICA DON'T BE MY VALENTINE! very poignant. This is a tremendously impressive volume of poetry and Miguel Murphy certainly has an eye for talent.
Grady Harp
February 6, 2009
Got my hard copy of OCHO in the mail. It really is well done. Its size reminds me of a graphic novel. Looking forward to reading it again in physical form.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews