My Dream Poet Anthology [by Reb Livingston]

Hi. I put together a series of short, revealing and kinda mean interviews with No Tell Books authors that I’ll be posting here all week. But before that I feel like I should introduce myself. That’s a tricky thing, introducing oneself. I’m trying to portray a certain image, but I never quite know how people will interpret what I display. I might try to be funny or smart, but instead come off assholish. Being a poet you’d think I’d be a master of the verbal introduction illusion and I’d like to think that I am, but sometimes I wonder if I’m coming across the way I intend. Every day I stare in the mirror and ask Mirror, mirror on the wall / Who’s the assholiest poet of all?

So what should I tell you about myself? I’m a poet, an editor and publisher. That makes me accomplished and shit. Sure, if you think writing poems and publishing other people’s poems is some sort of accomplishment. Survey says, most people don’t think so. Ok, so what else do I have going for myself? Well, I have a three year old son who’s incredibly good looking and I like to blog about him. A lot. That tells you I got that proud mom thing going on and moms are the foundation of society so you gotta respect that! But what if you’re one of those people who hate it when other people talk about their kids? What if you’re one of those dipshits who thinks kids shouldn’t be out in public cause they might cry or be loud or do something to interrupted your quaint $5 latte? God damn it, I can’t win. You probably hate me already.

How about this approach: how about I tell you all about my psyche? Anyone who knows me, knows I keep meticulous records of all my dreams for interpretation purposes. I track recurring themes and symbols and these themes and symbols tell where I am in life and suggest solutions to my problems. I’ve been told by a professional that I have a vivid and rich dream life and my dreams are extremely clever. The whole time I’ve been walking around with this oracle inside of me and I didn’t even know it! Impressed? Well, wait, there’s more.

I dream about poets all the time. Of course in my dreams these poets aren’t the actual poets. No, they represent (assigned by my own psyche!) aspects of myself or events in my life. Some poets I know personally, some I only know by their work and some only by name. One poet I didn’t even know was a poet. My dreamed referred to someone as a “great writer” so I Googled that person and discovered he was a poet. Now, I probably came across his work at some point and just didn’t remember, but my psyche did and pointed me in his direction and I’m still trying to figure out why.

Some poets I dream about repeatedly, some only once. Sometimes it’s a very elaborate dream, other times it’s just a reference to their work or a simple introduction. If you’re doing some self-googling and find yourself on this list, don’t fret, I’m not obsessed with you. My psyche might be, but my ego is not. And no, I won’t tell you the dream, even if you ask really nicely. Just assume it’s demented and involves a lot of Jell-O.

Here’s the list of all the poets I dreamed about so far in 2008. Actually, I’m being a tad deceptive and nobody likes deceit so let me try again. Here’s a list of all the poets I’ve dreamed about so far in 2008 (excluding 4 or 5 assholey poet types that I don’t want aware of their place in my dreamscape – their assholitude is true, the mirror confirmed it):

Elizabeth Alexander, Molly Arden, Robyn Art, Amanda Auchter, Andrea Baker, Michael Ball, Jennifer Bartlett, Lynn Behrendt, Anne Boyer, Mairead Byrne, Nick Carbo, Christophe Casamassima, Kelly Cockeram, Shanna Compton, Eduardo Corral, Bruce Covey, Jordan Davis, Oliver de la Paz, Linh Dinh, John Donne, Kevin Andre Elliott, Jill Alexander Essbaum, Tarfia Faizullah, Scott Glassman, Lea Graham, Lorraine Graham, Arielle Greenberg, Gabriel Gudding, Paul Guest, Reginald Harris, Ginger Heatter, Lee Herrick, Rauan Klassnik, Jennifer L. Knox, Shafer Hall, Charlie Jensen, Maryrose Larkin, David Lehman, Helen Losse, Montgomery Maxton, Joseph Massey, David Mcdonald, Didi Menendez, K. Silem Mohammad, Eileen Myles, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, PF Potvin, Carly Sachs, Allyson Salazar, Kate Schapira, Michael Schiavo, Steven Schroeder, Ravi Shankar, Ron Silliman, Sandra Simonds, Jessica Smith, Laurel Snyder, Hugh Behm-Steinberg, Henry Taylor, Maureen Thorson, Tony Tost, Chris Vitiello, Allyssa Wolf, John Yau, C. Dale Young, Timothy Yu, Rachel Zucker

I think the above list paints a pretty full picture of who I am and I think it’s only natural I don’t acknowledge all my assholey poet tendencies. A poet has to keep some mystery.

Looking through this list all I have to say is damn, that’s one fine anthology line-up. My psyche sure knows how to pick 'em.

BTW, I hope you enjoy the upcoming interviews and more importantly, I hope you like me.

Comments

[Jess P.]

Damn, Reb. I feel as if I'm going to have to do something memorable soon to make it onto this list. Because, you know, I'm feeling a little forgotten by your most internal self. I mean, I'm no Jill, but still...I DID hold the banner for her at your Miss Micro-Press Pageant. That has to count for something in your dreamscape!

[Steve S]

Woohoo, I'm in good company!

[Rebecca Loudon]

I'm afraid.

[Collin Kelley]

I cannot believe you've never dreamed about me, Reb. I'm hurt. I think. ;-)

[Didi]

Which dream was that dear? The one of us sipping pina coladas in the Caribbean? Or was it the nightmare where we were both at Walmart continuously being greeted by those same four poets that I have also placed on "that" list?

[Reginald Harris]

I'm with Jess: now I've got to live up to your dream! I also guess I'm going to have to stop showing up naked in my own dreams, just in case you're watching....

[Tony Green]

I dream about poets too, not often, just now & then. If I dream of you, I'll let you know, of course. It would be nice to know what you have dreamed about each of the poets you list.

[Tarfia Faizullah]

No kidding about good company! Although I am disappointed that you won't dream and tell...

[Oliver de la Paz]

My dreams generally involve a cocktail party . . . only I'm the guy wandering around cleaning up all the beer bottles before the party's over. Yeah, I'm THAT guy. Thanks for inviting me to your dream, though. :D