Part 1 of 4 Four Star Video Cooperative 449 State Street 255-1994 PAUL:S BOOKSTORE 670 State Street 257-2968 MICHELA.Nl;ELO'5 COFFEE HOUSE 114 51A1E 51R..EE1 NOGGI Hamr Shop 524 State St 251 1545 251-5299 B-SIDE RECORDS 436 State Street 255-1977 DOTTY DUMPLING'S DOWRY 317 N Frances St. 259.0000 HAllSII SIIAl•IIlO'S NI'l"l'Y Glll'l"l'Y 22:J N. 1 1 llANCES 251-2521 AVOl:S JOOKSTORE S 15 W. 0-orehattt 255·4130 c(ary's o{c[ 'Fashioned §ourmet Pcycorn 105 State St. 255.2426 JA,22MAUJ Suits/ Shirts/Ties 340 State St. 25,6.2 62 ' ever Out O f S(!yle"' THE STATE STREET POETRY SHEET 2002-2005 Palatine Publications Madison Arts Commission Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room LL-110 Madison, Wisconsin 53703 © 2016 by Suni Caylor Permission to use or copy poems is given for standard educational purposes, for all other purposes permission must be acquired from the author. All profits from the sale of this book will accrue to the John P. Tuschen Poets Laureate Fund. This is where the paragraph from the old site goes. If we don’t get something from Andrea then this is sufficient. Front cover photograph by Richard Hurd Front cover design by Jordan Caylor Back cover photograph by Terry Talbot Internal photographs by various artists including Terry Talbot and the poets. Printed by Lee Petersen of the UPS Full Service Print Center, Madison, Wisconsin Needs MAC logo. Back cover must also have MAC logo on it ISBN stuff goes here The State Street Poetry Sheets 2002 - 2005 Palatine Publications Madison Arts Commission Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room LL-110 Madison, Wisconsin 53703 © 2016 by Suni Caylor Introduction and annotations by Suni Caylor, editor. In Memoriam by J. Rod Clark. Permission to use or copy poems is given for standard educational purposes, for all other purposes permission must be acquired from the author. All profits from the sale of this book will accrue to the John P. Tuschen Poets Laureate Fund, Madison Arts Commission. Front cover photograph by Richard Hurd Back cover photograph by Terry Talbot Cover designs by Jordan T. Caylor Internal photographs by Terry Talbot and various artists. Printed by Lee Petersen of the UPS Full Service Print Center, Madison, Wisconsin ISBN: 978-1-5323-0006-6 2 The State Street Poetry Sheets 2002-2005 Between the years 2002 and 2005, John Tuschen, Madison s first and longest tenured Poet Laureate, published and distributed The Free State Street Poetry Sheet twice a month through a project grant issued by what is now known as the Madison Arts Commission. The Poetry Sheet blended three of Tuschen’s most fervent beliefs: 1) Art is for the people, ie, us regular joes, 2) Art makes the daily grind tolerable, 3) people need and want their perspectives of the world enlarged by art in their daily lives. He recruited merchants up and down State Street to meet the matching-grant requirement of the MAC, he rifled his resources of local poets and their poetry, solicited new poems from local poets both known and obscure and occasionally received unsolicited poems of value from previously unknown artists who had submitted their work to him for critique. He chose ones he felt most exemplified the three beliefs of the project, as well as humor and a surprising point of view, he sorted for theme, purpose of content, ability to read while walking (yes, that was a lesser criteria!), and the ability to present new or perceptively altered points of view that applied to the events of the day or season. He published these himself on brightly colored paper: on the front, the poem, a blurb about the author and why the poem was chosen, and various contact information; on the back, the merchant supporters and their establishments. He first distributed them among the merchants who had supported the grant, then walked State Street handing out the sheets to passers by, getting into conversations, getting to know regular readers, putting art in the hands of the people, making Art happen in the work place and the public gathering places of Madison’s downtown, in his words: the streets. This book, The State Street Poetry Sheets 2003-2005 recalls the years when words were dependably bandied among us, changing people s opinions and starting conversations among strangers. It brings back writing that bears remembering and announces to a new populous that words have scope and poems reveal it, that words, when put in unexpected order, change the way people feel about each other, their lives and the world they live in. It embodies the fervent hope of all Madison poets that poetry will once again flow in our streets and be as common as politics in our general conversations. The State Street Poetry Sheets 2002-2005 Between the years 2002 and 2005, John Tuschen, Madison s first and longest tenured Poet Laureate, published and distributed The Free State Street Poetry Sheet twice a month through a project grant issued by what is now known as the Madison Arts Commission. The Poetry Sheet blended three of Tuschen’s most fervent beliefs: 1) Art is for the people, ie, us regular joes, 2) Art makes the daily grind tolerable, 3) people need and want their perspectives of the world enlarged by art in their daily lives. He recruited merchants up and down State Street to meet the matching-grant requirement of the MAC, he rifled his resources of local poets and their poetry, solicited new poems from local poets both known and obscure and occasionally received unsolicited poems of value from previously unknown artists who had submitted their work to him for critique. He chose ones he felt most exemplified the three beliefs of the project, as well as humor and a surprising point of view, he sorted for theme, purpose of content, ability to read while walking (yes, that was a lesser criteria!), and the ability to present new or perceptively altered points of view that applied to the events of the day or season. He published these himself on brightly colored paper: on the front, the poem, a blurb about the author and why the poem was chosen, and various contact information; on the back, the merchant supporters and their establishments. He first distributed them among the merchants who had supported the grant, then walked State Street handing out the sheets to passers by, getting into conversations, getting to know regular readers, putting art in the hands of the people, making Art happen in the work place and the public gathering places of Madison’s downtown, in his words: the streets. This book, The State Street Poetry Sheets 2003-2005 recalls the years when words were dependably bandied among us, changing people s opinions and starting conversations among strangers. It brings back writing that bears remembering and announces to a new populous that words have scope and poems reveal it, that words, when put in unexpected order, change the way people feel about each other, their lives and the world they live in. It embodies the fervent hope of all Madison poets that poetry will once again flow in our streets and be as common as politics in our general conversations. The State Street Poetry Sheets 2002-2005 Between the years 2002 and 2005, John Tuschen, Madison s first and longest tenured Poet Laureate, published and distributed The Free State Street Poetry Sheet twice a month through a project grant issued by what is now known as the Madison Arts Commission. The Poetry Sheet blended three of Tuschen’s most fervent beliefs: 1) Art is for the people, ie, us regular joes, 2) Art makes the daily grind tolerable, 3) people need and want their perspectives of the world enlarged by art in their daily lives. He recruited merchants up and down State Street to meet the matching-grant requirement of the MAC, he rifled his resources of local poets and their poetry, solicited new poems from local poets both known and obscure and occasionally received unsolicited poems of value from previously unknown artists who had submitted their work to him for critique. He chose ones he felt most exemplified the three beliefs of the project, as well as humor and a surprising point of view. He sorted for theme, purpose of content, ability to read while walking (yes, that was a lesser criteria!), and the ability to present new or perceptively altered points of view that applied to the events of the day or season. He published these himself on brightly colored paper: on the front, the poem, a blurb about the author and why the poem was chosen, and various contact information; on the back, the merchant supporters and their establishments. He first distributed them among the merchants who had supported the grant, then walked State Street handing out the sheets to passers by, getting into conversations, getting to know regular readers, putting art in the hands of the people, making Art happen in the work place and the public gathering places of Madison’s downtown, in his words: the streets. This book, The State Street Poetry Sheets 2003-2005 recalls the years when words were dependably bandied among us, changing people s opinions and starting conversations among strangers. It brings back writing that bears remembering and announces to a new populous that words have scope and poems reveal it, that words, when put in unexpected order, change the way people feel about each other, their lives and the world they live in. It embodies the fervent hope of all Madison poets that poetry will once again flow in our streets and be as common as politics in our general conversations. 4 THE STATE STREET POETRY SHEETS 2002 - 2005 IN MEMORIUM: JOHN TUSCHEN Samuel John Tuschen, first and only publisher of the State Poetry Sheet, was Madisons first Poet Laureate from 1978 to 2000 and was Poet Laureate Emeritus from 2000 to 2005. Called the "Baby Beat" by Allen Ginsberg, Mr. Tuschen was the representative of the Beat Generation in the Midwest and was often called the Secret Revolutionary Society of One. Mr. Tuschen earned a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Psychology amid his poetry and worked as a psychologist for Dane County. The love, affection, irritation and inspiration engendered by Mr. Tuschen during his forty-year tenure as Madison’s spokesperson for Art as a Human Right made him a fixture in media and venues far outreaching his early expectations. He never failed to support artists perfecting their craft, the lost searching for hope, and people unseen, unheard, marching to the music in their own heads, who worked to make life more meaningful for themselves and others. John died August 5, 2005 at home, as he wished, doing what he loved best: writing poetry. When one of us is gone, we are all diminished. But as he said: personne ne meurt...ils sont seulement sortis de la salle... (nobody dies, they just leave the room). Peace and Poems, John. Love, Suni, Jordan, Mary, JeanMarc and Rod There are editions missing from Volume I in Tuschen's accumulated files and we regret the absence of these poems and their writers. There are undoubtedly mistakes that a keen eye or an avid grammarian will find. We did not alter Tuschen's writing to make it more "book" formal. These poems were originally printed for and distributed to a casual audience, one who, it was hoped, would be concerned with content and find the editor's conversational style appealing. We hope you do also. All other mistakes made during this compilation are the responsibility of this editor. Editors note: 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume I Ralph Sandler: 1 The Poet 1. 1 Tuschen: 2 Bleed 1. 2 Ron Czerwein: 3 Five Haiku 1. 3 Dennis Trudell: 4 I Made Flags 1. 4 Tom Neale: 5 Strings On A Stick 1. 6 Larry Giles: 6 The Indian Places 1. 7 Andrea Musher: 7 Bi-Me 1. 8 J. Rod Clark: 8 Fess Hotel Blues 1. 9 Francine Conley: 9 Gloria 1.10 Chris Morris: 10 Saw Tiresias 1.11 F.J. Bergman: 11 End of Summer 1.12 Walt Whitman 12 from Song of Myself 1.13 Andrea Potos 13 Moth Man 1.14 Andrea Potos I4 In the Old Bookshop 1.15 Tenaya Darlington 15 The Headles Horsewoman 1.17 John Lehman 16 In Other Words Employed 1.18 TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume I Ralph Sandler: 12 The Poet 1. 1 Tuschen: 14 Bleed 1. 2 Ron Czerwien: 16 Five Haiku 1. 3 Dennis Trudell: 18 I Made Flags 1. 4 Tom Neale: 20 Strings On A Stick 1. 6 Larry Giles: 22 The Indian Places 1. 7 Andrea Musher: 24 Bi-Me 1. 8 J. Rod Clark: 26 Fess Hotel Blues 1. 9 Francine Conley: 28 Gloria 1.10 Chris Morris: 30 Saw Tiresias 1.11 F.J. Bergman: 32 End of Summer 1.12 Walt Whitman 34 from Song of Myself 1.13 Andrea Potos 36 Moth Man 1.14 Andrea Potos 38 In the Old Bookshop 1.15 Tenaya Darlington 40 The Headless Horsewoman 1.17 John Lehman 42 In Other Words Employed 1.18 Tom Neale 44 April 11, 1617/Rebecca 1.19 Ron Czerwien 46 Rue American 1.20 Tuschen 48 One Moment 1.21 Miriam Hall 50 back from rome, end of january 1.22 Mitchell Metz 52 ETHIC 1.23 Walt Whitman 54 Beat! Beat! Drums! 1.24 Adam Foo 56 Vine Street, Berkeley (When the Paint Was Still Wet) 1.25 Volume II Will Chickering 60 Entropy 2. 1 F.J. Bergman 62 Forward, Fast 2. 2 64 Blank Verse 2. 3 Andrea Musher 66 Losing Daylight 2. 4 John Lehman 68 A Chinese Puzzle 2. 5 Suni Caylor 70 The Real Quantum Physics 2. 6 Mary Grow 72 Ghika’s House 1974 - Greece 2. 7 John Tuschen 74 Three Poems 2. 8 Mark E. Smith 76 Recycled 2. 9 8 Mark E. Smith 31 Recycled 2. 9 John Lehman 32 Journey ’ s End; Art of Reconciliation; Men Still Like The Smell of Fresh, Clean Clothes 2.10 Mary Grow 33 Vietnam 1968 2.11 Andrea Musher 34 Milk and Honey 2.12 F.J. Bergman 35 End-of-the-World Grill 2.13 Ruth Stone 36 Seed; In The Next Galaxy 2.14 John Tuschen 37 An Evening of Roasted Apples & Swine & Alma ’ s Laughing 2.15 Gregory Corso 38 How Not To Die 2.15 Dan Raven 39 Rooting For A Weed; Throw The First Stone 2.16 Charles Cantrell 40 Bats in the Chinaberry Tree 2.17 Richard Peabody 41 Last of the Red Hot Magnetos 2.18 Robert Schüler 42 Miles Davis, Frelon Brun 2.18 John Tuschen 43 Last Leaf Falling 2.19 Jordan Caylor 44 inhibition 2.20 John Lehman 78 Journey’s End; Art of Reconciliation; Men Still Like The Smell of Fresh, Clean Clothes 2.10 Mary Grow 80 Vietnam 1968 2.11 Andrea Musher 82 Milk and Honey 2.12 F.J. Bergman 84 End-of-the-World Grill 2.13 Ruth Stone 86 Seed; In The Next Galaxy 2.14 John Tuschen 88 An Evening of Roasted Apples & Swine & Alma’s Laughing 2.15 Gregory Corso 88 How Not To Die 2.15 Dan Raven 90 Rooting For A Weed; Throw The First Stone 2.16 Charles Cantrell 92 Bats in the Chinaberry Tree 2.17 Richard Peabody 94 Last of the Red Hot Magnetos 2.18 Robert Schüler 96 Miles Davis, Frelon Brun 2.18 John Tuschen 98 Last Leaf Falling 2.19 Jordan Caylor 100 inhibition 2.20 Mark E. Smith 102 A Future Of Someone 2.21 Jodi Anderson 104 peeling away the film 2.22 Ron Wallace 106 Caution 2.23 John Tuschen 108 Xmas Poem 2.24 Ruth Stone 110 The Self And The Universe 2.25 Volume III Andrea Musher 114 Sorting It Out in the Halls of Aberdeen, Maryland (December, 2004) 3. 1 S.J. Mahoney 116 The Tar of Roads and Highways 3. 2 John Lehman 118 Chicago Postcard; After Midnight 3. 3 Elody Samuelson 120 Birth of Aphrodite 3. 4 F.J. Bergman 122 Liquid 3. 5 Mark E. Smith 124 A Future of Someone 3. 6 John Tuschen 126 I Cry On America’s Tile 3. 7 10 THE STATE STREET POETRY SHEET 2002-2005 VOL. 1 Ralph E. Sandler was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He moved permanently to New York City at one and a half years old, from where he later served two years in the army and then finished a degree in English at New York University. He then moved to Madison WI to complete a Masters degree in English and Theater and for five years taught English at UW Madison and Dickinson college. He followed this time with 10 years as Assistant and then Director of the University Theater, then accepted the job of Executive Director for the Madison Civic Center where he presented the Arts for 9 1/2 years. His legacy included commissioning new works of art, bringing artists in residence to Madison and to Madison area schools as well as the presentation of experimental and avant-garde work. After almost 20 years in Madison he returned to New York City as a consultant in the Arts, then moved to Washington DC as a consultant to the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1992 Mr. Sandler returned to Madison where he began his third career as a photographer, which continues to be satisfying. sandeldr@chorus.net Tuschen wrote of him in 2002: Ralph Sandler included this poem in a pamphlet entitled POEMS, published along with fellow poet David Keller. Ralph is “unrecyclable.” 12 srArESrREUPOETRYSHEU March 21-28, 2002 Editor: John Toscben Tire Poet Old beyond his age (He is really sixty-two) His wrinkles deeper than furrows, Eyes reddish and watery Half dosed by the weight Of their lids, W.H. Auden responds Automatically to a question Asked the thousandth time. The question answered, the Smile removed, he Returns the Lucky Shike to his lips and is alone Once more. He laughs sometimes, Is always polite And forgets as quickly as He remembers. Enclosed by glass walls He is unhappy with parochial Niceties, young girls, faculty wives. Sweat forms on his chin But he is too polite To wipe it away. He complains, instead, About the heat And drinks his coffee And answers questions And makes absolutely certain That at all times The exits are clearly marked. Vol 1,#1 - Ralph Sandler John Tuschen was named Madison's first Poet Laureate. He was editor and publisher of the Free State Street Poetry Sheet from 2002 - 2005. Tuschen was "irrepressible" according to one local journalist. If interested, there is much more info on Tuschen at www.poeticvoices.com. Once there, go to "archives" then click on his name. 14 srArESrREUPOETRYSHEU March 28-April 4, 2002 Editor: Hector S iooza Bleed It seems like these moments of growth (and sapience?) are programmed with temporary lapses - lapses that are at once frightening and familiar when pain ebbs to grief and time must stand still for awhile and there is nothing you can do but listen to yourself bleed. Vol 1,#2 -Tuschen Ron Czerwien is the owner of Avol's Books LLC, an online seller of used and out-of-print books. His poems have appeared online and in print journals. Ron Czerwien Avol's Books LLC 315C W. Gorham St. Madison, WI 53703 608-255-4730 Tuschen wrote: Madison poet, Ron Czerwien, is a quiet but notorious supporter of nearly all things literary. So much so that he owns a couple of bookstores down here on State Street. Most notably is Avol’s Bookstore in the back corner of A Room of One's Own on Gorham Street just steps off State Street. It even has that wonderful smell that all good used book stores have and it ain't just coffee. 16 srArESrREUPOETRYSHEU April 18-25, 2002 Editor: Ca taio B Five Haiku Her top button half undone moon waxing, moon waning on the horizon glimmer of one sail first baby tooth a long way to go, can't stop to watch the sunset, the Mississippi late summer rainstorm under my leaky awning a web filled with holes stunned by her numerous piercings starry night -Ron Czerwien copyright 2002 Vol 1, #3 Tuschen wrote in 2002: Madison poet, Dennis Trudell, recently retired from college teaching, is currently working on a novel “set in the murderous Chicago heat wave of 1995.” Trudell is a master of irony and a fine performer of his own work. He is also one of the more ”self-actualized” human beings I’ve had the privilege to know. Mr. Trudell adds: Well, I didn’t get the novel published but I continue to write and place poems in literary journals. A story was selected for a volume of the annual O. Henry Prize Stories, I edited Full Court: A Literary Anthology of Basketball for Breakaway Books and my most recent book of poetry, Fragments in Us: Recent & Earlier Poems was published by University of Wisconsin Press. dentrudell@yahoo.com 18