1/9/22
A mice home invasion had me utilizing enough steel wool and heavy-duty black sealing tape to hopefully make the house more secure than Fort Knox. My studio, with its jam-packed areas of hoarded creative projects was one of the places hit the hardest. This at least gave me a kick-in-the-pants to go through filing cabinets and finally beginning typing up poems moldering in manilla envelopes and notebooks dating back to 1989 - 2017. Hand-written dates were written on the front of these stating when work was last revised/chucked out, the predominant dates seeming to be either 2009 or 2014. Still, tackling over two-decades worth of material in the crunch of six months is not something I would advise as a way of maintaining sanity. Truly, I had no precise idea where much of the work came from, what inspired the words which, though apparently written from an impassioned core, remained obscure to me in source. I have often felt myself more of a vessel induced into a trance state via solitude and working with little sticky notes containing words, phrases, imagery pasted into the margins of writing paper & then letting a force larger than me help bring these things together, but re-reading this amount of words was somewhat unsettling. I also found myself doing a lot of re-reading to try and figure out what the voice of many of these poems was actually addressing. Still, yesterday I came across a quote by Carl Sandburg where he alluded to much of the same phenomenon in his own work, so there was some reassurance in that, and although overwhelmed by having written and kept so much work even after chucking out large chunks, there is a sense of relief that these pieces are like baby turtles, finally hatched and ready to make their way to the ocean, being tested by whatever perils there are before ever reaching momentarily miraculous surf.
A mice home invasion had me utilizing enough steel wool and heavy-duty black sealing tape to hopefully make the house more secure than Fort Knox. My studio, with its jam-packed areas of hoarded creative projects was one of the places hit the hardest. This at least gave me a kick-in-the-pants to go through filing cabinets and finally beginning typing up poems moldering in manilla envelopes and notebooks dating back to 1989 - 2017. Hand-written dates were written on the front of these stating when work was last revised/chucked out, the predominant dates seeming to be either 2009 or 2014. Still, tackling over two-decades worth of material in the crunch of six months is not something I would advise as a way of maintaining sanity. Truly, I had no precise idea where much of the work came from, what inspired the words which, though apparently written from an impassioned core, remained obscure to me in source. I have often felt myself more of a vessel induced into a trance state via solitude and working with little sticky notes containing words, phrases, imagery pasted into the margins of writing paper & then letting a force larger than me help bring these things together, but re-reading this amount of words was somewhat unsettling. I also found myself doing a lot of re-reading to try and figure out what the voice of many of these poems was actually addressing. Still, yesterday I came across a quote by Carl Sandburg where he alluded to much of the same phenomenon in his own work, so there was some reassurance in that, and although overwhelmed by having written and kept so much work even after chucking out large chunks, there is a sense of relief that these pieces are like baby turtles, finally hatched and ready to make their way to the ocean, being tested by whatever perils there are before ever reaching momentarily miraculous surf.
"Poems published in Erothanatos, Volume 4 Issue 1
Creation, The Botanist's Romance, To Obsess Less, Stage Fright
f1951705-da70-4db2-86c7-efa3a7321935.filesusr.com/ugd/3e169b_da476c0c9c1b489782d97eb2a5df1efa.pdf?index=true
Poems published in Impspired, impspired.com/2021/02/01/stephen-mead/
Down to Zero, Snow Fell, Thinking of Opus 40
Poem published in the Pangolin Review, thepangolinreview.wixsite.com/mypoetrysite/issue-17-february-8-2021
Each Year
Two Poems in Vita Brevis, vitabrevisliterature.com/poems/the-story-of-a-life-poetry-by-stephen-mead/
The Story of a Life and Ghosts, vitabrevisliterature.com/poems/ghosts-poetry-by-stephen-mead/
One poem for Eve Poetry, evepoetry.com/2021/02/04/on-deck/
On Deck
One poem for Oddball, oddballmagazine.com/poem-by-stephen-mead-2/
Glue
One poem in Cactifur, cactifur.com/2021/06/23/transplants-stephen-mead/
Transplants
Poems for Ink Pantry, www.inkpantry.com/poetry-drawer-counting-blessings-exacting-revenge-bleeding-for-jaco-waves-the-photographers-pupil-by-stephen-mead/
Counting Blessings, Exacting Revenge, Bleeding for Jaco, Waves, The Photographer's Pupil
"Waves" as Soundscape incorporated into short collage film, "Water Angel", youtu.be/doU0ZrS89rI
One Poem for Nude Bruce Review, Microsoft Word - ISSUE 11 LAYOUT DRAFT FINAL.docx (wordpress.com),
Looking
One Poem in Rabid Oak, rabidoak.com/issues/issue-21/stephen-mead/
Winter Garden on the Move
Two Poems for Backchannels, backchannelsjournal.net/edition-no-8-poetry-spring-2021/stephen-mead-green-domes-8/
backchannelsjournal.net/edition-no-9-summer-2021/stephen-mead-take-this-ache-9/
Green Domes, Take This Ache
One Poem for Sybil Journal, www.sybiljournal.com/work-2/2021/4/26/glass-taxi-by-stephen-mead
Glass Taxi (and as poetry art hybrid): glass_taxi_as_poetry_art_hybrid_yellow_text_better.jpg
One Poem for North of Oxford, The Pandemic Issue, northofoxford.wordpress.com/2021/04/25/north-of-oxford-spring-2021-pandemic-issue-7/
dispatchesfromquarantine.co/2022/04/07/dispatch-071/
Blue Mask Seas, collage film version, vimeo.com/565285309
One poem for Uppagus, uppagus.com/poems/mead-landscape/
Landscape of Wind
Two poems for ShabdAaweg Issue Nine, shabd.aaweg.com/poems/stephen/where-time-goes/
(LINK BROKEN)
poetry_where_time_goes__ii_iii_.pdf
Notes on Doing a Book Jacket, Gabriel - Upon Finishing a Book Jacket
where_time_goes_image_for_shabdaaweg_review.jpg
One Video Poem for Poetry Archive Now, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAxI03tABg4
From Real to Surreal
from_real_to_surreal_9_13_13.pdf
One Poem for Poetic Sun, Issue 5, www.poetic-sun.com/uploads/1/3/7/1/137144924/poetic_sun_issue5.pdf
Felt
One Poem for Neologism, www.neologismpoetry.com/august-2021/
The Shop Worker's Wealth
Poems for The Rail, www.derailleur.press/the-rail/no-epilogues-gun-metal-the-detonator-heart#/
No Epilogues, Gun Metal, The Detonator Heart
Poems for The Pinecone Review,thepineconereview.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/be-proud-with-pride-special-issue_september-2-2021-2.pdf
Confluence, He's My Kind
One poem for The Bosporus Review, bosphorusreview.com/the-violet-hour
The Violet Hour
Poems for Last Leaves 090cad87-322d-42bb-8d8c-a001a2344772.filesusr.com/ugd/dccfc8_3b4b0af85aed4c4e9b8c3cd0a49286f2.pdf
"Maskenfreiheit", "Pandora's Looking Glass," and "Simple"
One Poem for Ephemeral Elegies, ephemeralelegies.com/2021/10/25/interims-by-stephen-mead/
Interims
One poem for Literary Heist, www.literaryheist.com/poetry/oh/?shared=email&msg=fail
Oh
One Poem for Otoliths, the-otolith.blogspot.com/2021/10/stephen-mead.html
Other Hotels, Neighborhoods
Poems for The Academy of Heart and Mind, academyoftheheartandmind.wordpress.com/2021/12/03/no-wrong-turns-and-other-poems/
No Wrong Turns, Decubitus, The Ghost Goes Home
Poem for Ariel Chart, www.arielchart.com/2021/11/and-anyway-angels.html
And Anyways, Angels
Poem for The Young Ravens Literary Journal, www.youngravensliteraryreview.org/yr15-stephen-mead.html
Wise, Wise, Sea
One Poem in The Voices Project, www.thevoicesproject.org/poetry-library/moon-sliver-by-stephen-mead
Moon Sliver
One Poem in The Purposeful Mayo, www.dropbox.com/s/difs8svca86e8d6/TPM%201.4.pdf?dl=0
Weight of the Year
One Essay, "There's Poetry in the Kitchen", www.thepurposefulmayo.com/the-bagel-hole-dec-10-21
Poems for The Literary Yard, literaryyard.com/2021/12/11/mummifying-and-other-poems/
Mummifying, But for Grace, Eyes Open, Amaryllis, Drop
One Poem for The Aurum Journal, aurumjournal.wixsite.com/creative-space/post/black-ice-inversion
Black Ice Inversion
One Poem for Discretionary Love, www.discretionarylove.com/author/stephenmead/
Drifting
Creation, The Botanist's Romance, To Obsess Less, Stage Fright
f1951705-da70-4db2-86c7-efa3a7321935.filesusr.com/ugd/3e169b_da476c0c9c1b489782d97eb2a5df1efa.pdf?index=true
Poems published in Impspired, impspired.com/2021/02/01/stephen-mead/
Down to Zero, Snow Fell, Thinking of Opus 40
Poem published in the Pangolin Review, thepangolinreview.wixsite.com/mypoetrysite/issue-17-february-8-2021
Each Year
Two Poems in Vita Brevis, vitabrevisliterature.com/poems/the-story-of-a-life-poetry-by-stephen-mead/
The Story of a Life and Ghosts, vitabrevisliterature.com/poems/ghosts-poetry-by-stephen-mead/
One poem for Eve Poetry, evepoetry.com/2021/02/04/on-deck/
On Deck
One poem for Oddball, oddballmagazine.com/poem-by-stephen-mead-2/
Glue
One poem in Cactifur, cactifur.com/2021/06/23/transplants-stephen-mead/
Transplants
Poems for Ink Pantry, www.inkpantry.com/poetry-drawer-counting-blessings-exacting-revenge-bleeding-for-jaco-waves-the-photographers-pupil-by-stephen-mead/
Counting Blessings, Exacting Revenge, Bleeding for Jaco, Waves, The Photographer's Pupil
"Waves" as Soundscape incorporated into short collage film, "Water Angel", youtu.be/doU0ZrS89rI
One Poem for Nude Bruce Review, Microsoft Word - ISSUE 11 LAYOUT DRAFT FINAL.docx (wordpress.com),
Looking
One Poem in Rabid Oak, rabidoak.com/issues/issue-21/stephen-mead/
Winter Garden on the Move
Two Poems for Backchannels, backchannelsjournal.net/edition-no-8-poetry-spring-2021/stephen-mead-green-domes-8/
backchannelsjournal.net/edition-no-9-summer-2021/stephen-mead-take-this-ache-9/
Green Domes, Take This Ache
One Poem for Sybil Journal, www.sybiljournal.com/work-2/2021/4/26/glass-taxi-by-stephen-mead
Glass Taxi (and as poetry art hybrid): glass_taxi_as_poetry_art_hybrid_yellow_text_better.jpg
One Poem for North of Oxford, The Pandemic Issue, northofoxford.wordpress.com/2021/04/25/north-of-oxford-spring-2021-pandemic-issue-7/
dispatchesfromquarantine.co/2022/04/07/dispatch-071/
Blue Mask Seas, collage film version, vimeo.com/565285309
One poem for Uppagus, uppagus.com/poems/mead-landscape/
Landscape of Wind
Two poems for ShabdAaweg Issue Nine, shabd.aaweg.com/poems/stephen/where-time-goes/
(LINK BROKEN)
poetry_where_time_goes__ii_iii_.pdf
Notes on Doing a Book Jacket, Gabriel - Upon Finishing a Book Jacket
where_time_goes_image_for_shabdaaweg_review.jpg
One Video Poem for Poetry Archive Now, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAxI03tABg4
From Real to Surreal
from_real_to_surreal_9_13_13.pdf
One Poem for Poetic Sun, Issue 5, www.poetic-sun.com/uploads/1/3/7/1/137144924/poetic_sun_issue5.pdf
Felt
One Poem for Neologism, www.neologismpoetry.com/august-2021/
The Shop Worker's Wealth
Poems for The Rail, www.derailleur.press/the-rail/no-epilogues-gun-metal-the-detonator-heart#/
No Epilogues, Gun Metal, The Detonator Heart
Poems for The Pinecone Review,thepineconereview.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/be-proud-with-pride-special-issue_september-2-2021-2.pdf
Confluence, He's My Kind
One poem for The Bosporus Review, bosphorusreview.com/the-violet-hour
The Violet Hour
Poems for Last Leaves 090cad87-322d-42bb-8d8c-a001a2344772.filesusr.com/ugd/dccfc8_3b4b0af85aed4c4e9b8c3cd0a49286f2.pdf
"Maskenfreiheit", "Pandora's Looking Glass," and "Simple"
One Poem for Ephemeral Elegies, ephemeralelegies.com/2021/10/25/interims-by-stephen-mead/
Interims
One poem for Literary Heist, www.literaryheist.com/poetry/oh/?shared=email&msg=fail
Oh
One Poem for Otoliths, the-otolith.blogspot.com/2021/10/stephen-mead.html
Other Hotels, Neighborhoods
Poems for The Academy of Heart and Mind, academyoftheheartandmind.wordpress.com/2021/12/03/no-wrong-turns-and-other-poems/
No Wrong Turns, Decubitus, The Ghost Goes Home
Poem for Ariel Chart, www.arielchart.com/2021/11/and-anyway-angels.html
And Anyways, Angels
Poem for The Young Ravens Literary Journal, www.youngravensliteraryreview.org/yr15-stephen-mead.html
Wise, Wise, Sea
One Poem in The Voices Project, www.thevoicesproject.org/poetry-library/moon-sliver-by-stephen-mead
Moon Sliver
One Poem in The Purposeful Mayo, www.dropbox.com/s/difs8svca86e8d6/TPM%201.4.pdf?dl=0
Weight of the Year
One Essay, "There's Poetry in the Kitchen", www.thepurposefulmayo.com/the-bagel-hole-dec-10-21
Poems for The Literary Yard, literaryyard.com/2021/12/11/mummifying-and-other-poems/
Mummifying, But for Grace, Eyes Open, Amaryllis, Drop
One Poem for The Aurum Journal, aurumjournal.wixsite.com/creative-space/post/black-ice-inversion
Black Ice Inversion
One Poem for Discretionary Love, www.discretionarylove.com/author/stephenmead/
Drifting
