laminated tongue in aspic

In a howling violation of language Joshua Martin manages to take us to that far away region where rationality is a forgotten border, where we are free to play with imagination in a cacophonous riot.

—Daniel J Flosi EiC Black Stone / White Stone

In its own terms, this collection can best be described as “a kiss to build a bridge & a tongue to destroy it”. All things are connected in their passionate separateness and hopeful freedom. These poetic and chaotic glimpses of reality are bittersweet, but also sour and spicy; and even more pleasurable than a box filled with all kinds of
Daifuku—this is Dada.

Some lines feel like accidental protests. It is true that “wire TAPPED whaling ships only harm THEMselves while sharpened knives never hurt a SOULFUL war machine but did medicate PANDA cubs w/earthWorM spaghetti SAUCE.” These are matters we all care about deeply. Things I long for exist in these poems, such as “a zebra manifesto &
STATEment made to police the POLICE”.

More lovely animals, such as a pigeon charged with arsonist intent, as well as the STINGray boulevard hat RACK and leaping fish expo hall are waiting. There will be wailing rabbits, a crustacean musical, a donkey avalanche, a contradiction caterpillar… And all catfish snore, isn’t it endearing? “Listen to these squirrels dance” and get ready
for dulce de leche; this book is great.

— Tania Bies, author of the new cockatoo (Free Lines Press)