Me Reading Stuff

Can you head out into the world without issue? Can you think about your past and be all "ehhh, it was ok, no big deal." Can you attend a party and enjoy it? Can you just eat regular, healthy meals & head to the gym after work and not overthink the whole thing? Well good for you! Please listen to another reading of Anne Boyer from her astounding book "Garments Against Women" which can be purchased through the link below. I can not explain how much I revere this book. If I could give it every single award there is, I would do exactly that. I love you guys,RobynBuy the book here: https://ahsahtapress.org/product/boyer-garments/Learn more about Anne Boyer here: http://www.anneboyer.com

Today, while I watch a man in a Members Only jacket urinate on the wall behind my home, I read you a poem about how the wondrous clashing of emotion and time are exactly what make up a life. This isn't bad, this isn't good, it just is. And I guess in its is-ness, it's actually pretty damn splendid. I also talk to you about an experience I had with two bodybuilding brothers while living in Chicago. Now that one is sad. Unequivocally.We will go through endless streets,Robyn

Before I started dicing a bunch of Thanksgiving vegetables, I took my laptop outside to talk to you. But I'm naturally very loud and it's early, so I'm more like whispering to you. I sound pretty creepy. Sorry about that. And less than a week ago, I stated clearly I would never have a guest on this podcast. Today, I broke that rule with a surprise guest. Listen to hear who I let in!With love, Robyn

Don't be a clown. Or do. It's all about the depending. Listen as Leonard Cohen tells us what is embarrassing and not-right about those who read to us. Let me not fail him. I look good when I'm tired (he said so), Robyn

What did you last ask in a graveyard? What is the perfume you love? Have you, a poor man, entered a woman of means? And do we all agree that good things are most likely NOT on their way? How much toilet paper do you keep in the house? Do you use HP60 ink cartridges? Is it ok that this is all about me? Did I warm your heart in San Antonio?With love, Robyn and MarkLINKS:Strand on Bookworm: http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/bookworm/mark-strand-a-blizzard-of-oneBut the book: http://knopfdoubleday.com/author/30082/mark-strand/

"The world poured back and forth between their eyes once or twice." Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson is in my list of the Top 5 Books I'd Recommend to Absolutely Anyone. It's tragic, obsessive love. It's cruelty and confusion. It's brave and brilliant. And dear Geryon is the most lovable main character I've ever read. And the structure of this book - A NOVEL IN VERSE - perfection. GOD LOVES LOLA,Robynp.s. so sorry for the horrible German pronunciations!

There are clouds overhead, there are people whose fathers are dead, there are crime novelists writing poetry and those people sometimes die of cancer. There is this. And there is that. And there is you and there is me.Restless desires & unnerving fears,RobynLINKSKenneth Fearing, selected poems: http://www.loa.org/volume.jsp?RequestID=210Matthew Sontheimer's show: http://www.lacitycollege.edu/academic/departments/art/gallery.htmlJulie Weitz: http://www.julieweitz.com/touchmuseum/

If you feel like a Monday is best handled underwater, this is the Monday podcast for you. Bigots Not Invited!Today I read from the phenomenal book INTERFERON PSALMS by Luke Davies. A friend and someone I aspire to be more like every damn day, this book will tear your heart into pieces and leave you begging for more. We lift up our hearts, RobynLINKS:http://www.lukedavies.blogspot.comhttp://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13120632-interferon-psalmshttp://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/243066http://greatconcavity.podbean.com

I have never felt so desperate to share a book with you all. Anne Boyer's "Garments Against Women" is necessary. There's nothing like it. And if the world were right, those 800,000 people at that Kansas City Royals Parade the other day would have been there to celebrate Anne Boyer. That many people should be falling all over themselves & each other in order to honor their love of her books. That's the world I want to live in. http://www.anneboyer.comBuy Garments Against Women here: https://ahsahtapress.org/product/boyer-garments/

I saw three women do something bold and pretty distasteful already this morning. Listen to hear what they did. And then I came home to read you H.D.'s The Wind Sleepers. To Rocky Top, Robyn

As a special Halloween Bonus, I read you guys the first poem I ever memorized. I was a 7th grade goth cheerleader. Forever in black, Robyn

Thanks to artist & ME READING STUFF listener, Marcy Thomas, I'm doing the unthinkable. I'm reading Sylvia Plath's "Daddy." I've always really disliked Plath, and I loathe The Bell Jar. Furthermore, I've never said the words "daddy" & "jew" so often in my entire 38 years of existing. Also mentioned: my brain thinks it bought a donkey figurine in China, but I haven't even been to China. I have however been to East Texas. LINKS:http://marcyjthomas.weebly.comhttps://jasonpreu.wordpress.comhttp://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/19/opinion/oliver-sacks-on-learning-he-has-terminal-cancer.html?_r=0

“When you’re in the studio painting, there are a lot of people in there with you - your teachers, friends, painters from history, critics…and one by one if you’re really painting, they walk out. And if you’re really painting YOU walk out.”Philip GustonOther topics: anger, Toyota Tacomas, apes, coffee, water, John Goodman. And of course, the wonderfully complex Russell Edson.

Tonight, I sit on my drum throne appreciating DVD players. I pretend to bring you tea and cookies. And then I read to you both William Stafford's "A Ritual to Read to Each Other" & William Meredith's "Poem About Morning."It was a simple Saturday night, and we both enjoyed it. xo, Robyn

These two poets sat in a classroom together and wrote under the prompt: DEATH! Here is what happened. A man doesn't have time, Robyn

Austin writer Stephanie Goehring allowed me to read from her in-progress manuscript "Who Took This Selfie?" and I couldn't be more grateful. You can find much more about Stephanie and link to the numerous places she's been published on her website http://www.stephaniegoehring.comThere's a lot of internet related sadness in this World, and Stephanie seems to be particularly in tune with the subject. Also on today's podcast, I talk about bananas and assholes. Not the anatomical ones, I like to save that for face-to-face conversations. Until then, Robynp.s if you're in the Austin area, you can go hear Stephanie Goehring read at Malvern Books this Friday, October 23rd at 7pm! More info here: http://malvernbooks.com

"Why involve yourself? You'd be better to sit off to the side, on the sidewalk under the awning, hands over your mouth, your ears, your eyes...." - Margaret Atwood.Waiting for the word, Robyn

A man 900,000 years old, or is it 25? A worn-out love. A man staring directly at the sun. I read you two poems today even though my voice sounds like I own a wine bar. Enjoy it. xo, Robynp.s. special thanks to http://www.stephaniegoehring.com

Every day is a good day to read Rilke, especially when he reminds us to celebrate the burdens of life and love and all sorts of other shit. I also read Valéry Larbaud who seems totally cool with laying bare his soul for others to consume. Sound familiar? Take everything I am, Robynp.s. if you'd like to win a personal podcast by yours truly, please support my friends over at Free Beer Podcast. They'll be having a fundraiser in Austin on October 17th. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1700959660139337/

A poem compiled from thousands of sentences said by the poet's son while he was 2 and 3, this is resonant. I also talk overheard conversations, Jayson Musson, natbrut.com , ekphrasis, found poetry & more. I never want to minus you, Robyn