Me Reading Stuff

Sex, Death, Balls, Melancholy, iTunes reviews, Denim, Poems, Blue Crayons, Dahlia, Confederate Money, Royalty Free Music Haters, Longshoremen & Lists. What more could one want? With affection, Robyn p.s. please see my friend Iva Gueorguieva's stunning and thoughtful solo exhibition at ACME GALLERY. Details: www.acmelosangeles.com

I hadn't even stretched or breathed yet this morning when recording this one, so you get to hear me wake up. A dream come true, I'm sure. These are some poems that I had to cut out of previous podcasts due to time constraints. The C.K. Williams one rips me apart. If you've ever felt humiliated, it'll get to you for sure. I'm humiliated. Often. With love, yr girl Robby

Even though I wanted to read this poem to you, what I REALLY want is for you to go listen to Tracy Morgan read it on Def Poetry Jam. So do that! And have a wonderful day, week, year, life. Be kind to yourself. Drink lots of water. Eat an apple. Write letters. Do your thing.

This book is "a compendium of found poems pieced together form the post-game interviews of professional athletes." say writers Jeff Parker and Pasha Malla. This is a collection of truly remarkable, gorgeous, funny, bizarre & poignant poems by people like Ron Artest, Kevin Garnett, George Best and Tiger Woods. I can not recommend this book enough. It is phenomenal. Preorder it on featherproof.com for only $14.95.

Memorial episode to Pulitzer Prize winning poet C.K. Williams. "time, as do you, dismember me, render me, leave me slop in a pail"

First and foremost, I'd like to apologize for all the "ummmms" in recent episodes. I'm mortified by my horrendous speaking patterns these days. My dear friend (artist) Matthew Sontheimer sent me two really commanding poems via email today. That email & these poems fortified my insides. And I needed reinforcement. So how could I not share with you, my dear sweet friends? Warning though, I'm a little weird today. For that, and for many other things, I am sorry, Robyn

The Greatest Speaking/Reading Voice in The World is that of Evan Dalton Smith. And today, I have the honor of reading you two of his poems. Evan's first book LOOKING FOR ANDY GRIFFITH will be out in 2016, and he can be found on twitter at @evandaltonsmith. "When I wake I fret, strut, destroy." With love, Robyn the Voyeur

Back on the rough stuff (coffee), I come at you this morning burning. Anne Carson, one of the great loves of my life, is the reason I'm reading you Ingeborg Bachmann today. These three poems are vigorous and clear, and I hope their strength will stun/stir/stimulate you the way they do me. I lose my screams, Robyn

The ending of this one unravels facets of sapiosexuality, something I'm both close to & agonized by. Please buy "Danger and Beauty", the book from which this sturdy poem came. Jessica Hagedorn, I love you. This poem throbs.

When one thinks of Las Vegas, one immediately thinks of Carson McCullers, am I right? Please enjoy a beautiful passage from The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, as recommended to me by the incomparable artist Jesse Wiedel. I love you guys. Truly, Robyn

With many thanks to all who entered, we have our winners! I wish I could have chosen all of you, but the contest winners are "Em" and "David Drury"! Congratulations to them both. I hope you enjoy my readings of these two magnificent entries. And while I did not do either of them justice, I had a goddamn BLAST with these pieces. Em's complex rendition of Donald Barthelme's "Concerning the Bodyguard" was truly mind-blowing. And David's tender understanding of Channing Tatum's inner difficulties was both touching and arousing. The words "chiseled confusion" sum it up nicely.Em has nothing to plug because she remains a mystery. David can be found on twitter @DavDrury (highly recommend following him) & also at @jeffbreakfast. Also, listen to Tennis Pro! You won't regret it!

Today, I finally read the master Walt Whitman. I guess I didn't read him to you yet because it seemed so obvious? I decided to read part 1 & 2 of Song of Myself in case there are any newcomers to Whitman. This is a great place to start. We'll do some deep cuts at a later date. IMPORTANT! DEADLINE for the CHANNING TATUM erotic poetry contest is tonight, midnight Pacific Time. I'll announce the winner on Thursday!

I was full with medium-level energy as I recorded this on my balcony for you this morning. Here is just one of the fantastic lines you'll get to hear today if you listen to this episode: "I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed & that necessary." I decided to make this a Margaret Atwood week. Today is her poetry. Please enjoy. Please buy any of her many books. Wishing you all well today, as always. XO, Robyn

In order to make sure everyone remembers they have to enter the contest by the end of the day, Monday, August 31st, I'm reading you one of my favorite entries so far! Anna Reynolds Wallis imagines Channing Tatum loving her for all she is: greasy bangs (I relate), dirty laundry, reading short stories, and driving her base model Kia. This poem made me laugh so hard! Thanks to Anna for sharing. Don't forget guys, if you win, you get a drawing by yours truly AND a care package full of all sorts of fun stuff. So ENTER! It's FUN! And I love you. Royalty free, hip hop, dark, Robyn

There's been a lot of poetry being flung around ME READING STUFF these days, so today I switch it up a bit. I read you a short story by Margaret Atwood that is as devastating as it is hilarious. It's an important one. It's from her 1983 book, "Murder in the Dark" & was published again in 1992 in "Good Bones." You should go buy one of those. Here's to authentic endings,Robyn p.s. only 1 week left in the Channing Tatum erotic poetry contest!

My friend, artist & musician, Anthony Record, recommended I read you some Theodore Roethke. How could I not? Roethke is one of the best. So is Anthony! And LOOK AT THAT TITLE. "Elegy for Jane (My Student, Thrown by a Horse)"...jesus. That's a title. This poem destroys me. Too bad I don't know how to pronounce Roethke's name. Sorry about that. While we're at it, sorry about a lot of things. I'm cloudy and consumed and not on my "A" game right now. Something about this morning also compelled me to share with you my favorite art & literature journal, Nat. Brut! Please go check their website out ASAP. You won't regret it. Neither father nor lover,Robyn

Well, well, look who's back? I'm finally reading a little Gertrude Stein for you. I may have chosen the cowardly route by picking pieces that aren't next-to-impossible to get one's tongue around, and for that I am sorry. If you'll stay tuned, I assure you I will soon attempt some of her more strenuous verse. And someone asked me to explain my obsession with Kleenex, so I dig into that a bit. Lastly, may we never forget, "romance is everything." (as if one could),Robyn

This is what we do over here at ME READING STUFF occasionally. As the lights of the city dim, and the glorious people of the Land beg for provocation & sweet nothings, we turn that $50 mic on and we READ. We read about Channing Tatum learning about what incense is and living near a Whole Foods. We read about Channing Tatum understanding the difference between dead bird feathers and sex toys. And we also read a poem by the great Frank O'Hara. We do it all over here, and we do it for you. Are you breathing? I am, but barely.Sincerely,Robyn

Hafez, Persian poet from the 14th century, will blow your mind & help you to find a new lover. No doubt about that. Enjoy this selection of poems about parties, God giving you a full wet kiss, and about quittin' ya day job. In this episode, I tell you a story about an insane way I once quit a job of mine (in involves being a defiant barista & being killed off in a horror film.) I used to be a terrible liar. Change rooms in your mind for a day,Robynp.s. also mentioned: Eli Porter, Tenacious D, Bruce Hornsby and being nice.

You guys are the first people I spoke to today. Before even my beloved, Coffee. This morning, I remind you that the Channing Tatum erotic poetry contest is going strong. Please email your stimulating entries to mereadingstuff@icloud.com. The poem today is a quick shot to the heart, and it contains the most powerful and immaculate ending. I know you're going to love it. This is Donald Hall's "Affirmation." Stifling, Robyn O'Neil