Undercurrent Blues Has A Rhythm of Its Own - Poetry Book Review

On July 17, 2005 Cahuenga Press released Undercurrent Blues by James Cushing (Cahuenga is a cooperative press and Undercurrent Blues is the 14th book they have published since their inception in 1989). The collection includes poems written from 1989 through 1991 and 1997 through 2002. If you're like me, you immediately ask where 1992 through 1996 went. Mr. Cushing explains the skip in time in his Author's Note at the beginning of the book. Basically, the poetry included reflects the first 25 years of his writing life.

In Undercurrent Blues, The poems from 1989 through 1991 are from Mr. Cushing's first book, You and the Night and the Music published by Cahuenga Press in 1991. The titles and poems are inspired by 20th Century American songs that have become jazz standards. In Fly Me to the Moon Mr. Cushing's lyrical style matches the desire for transport in that old standard but he offers us a deeper yearning in his stanzas. We picked roles (insomniac shepherd, complaining nymph) from
a basket of fruit. Orisons rise from every third house, a glow like
a broadcast ending, and we wanted this, to live near the sun, that
constant burnt offering.

His poetry from 1997 through 2002 is a reaction to the death of both parents and the end of his second marriage – to put it in the author's words "darker stimulation". In spite of the dark stimulation, these poems have a sly sense of humor, an acceptance of life's slings and arrows. Of these, The Turn of April shows the author's recovering hope:

I think we are moving, slowly and patiently,
within a great walled garden along an eastern path,
and I think I can assume we keep walking, lightly
and with kindness, until the garden ends, and we fall off the edge
where the next dream begins in a rush of kisses and cameras.

Undercurrent Blues by James Cushing asserts that music shapes us but also encourages the reader to play with its rhythms in order to fully incorporate its influence on our psyche. In the second half of the book, Mr. Cushing acknowledges the darker moments of life but offers hope and a bit of a lesson in maintaining one's sense of humor.

Sanora is a co-creator and founder of http://www.LAwritersgroup.com. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from North Dakota State University. From 1995-2001, she studied under Cathy Colman ("Borrowed Dress") in her Unleash the Writer Within workshops and was included in her Master Poetry Class in 1996 and 1997. In April 1997 she won a Poetry Reading contest sponsored by Borders. In 2000 she studied under Ron Koertge ("Making Love to Roget's Wife") in Pasadena. She was one of several featured poets at scheduled readings at Midnight Special Book Store in Santa Monica, The Rose Café in Venice, CA and Projectile Poetry. She has taken part in several open mike readings in the Los Angeles area and believes poetry is meant to be spoken as well as read. Two of her poems, Elegy and Untouchable, appeared in the 20th edition of Wordwrights! magazine. Sanora is currently working on her Master of Professional Writing degree at the University of Southern California.

Related Articles:

Loose Diamond Online Retailer, AWDiamonds.com -- Mother's Day Poetry Contest
A&W Diamonds is holding their first of many annual Mother's Day Poem Competitions. The winner of A&W Diamonds Mother's Day Poem competition will win a beautiful princess shaped diamond. To participate and contend for a princess diamond contestants are to write an original poem for mother's day, including the phrase "princess diamond" throughout their poem.

Mechanical Poetry - Part Three
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and Garfunkle song? Pure poetry. Want to write poems like that? Start copying them.

Poetry Takes Readers on a Voyage to the Heart of Humanity
In his debut poetry volume, Voyages, Ross Smith seeks to reunify the common goals of humanity, which have too often been pushed aside in favor of petty differences.

Order Essay-The Writing Service
Order essay is probably one of the simplest ways to submit a paper on time. Aside from the schoolwork in day to day classes, you need to write papers which are intended to expand your knowledge and improve your writing skills. However because some students do not have the capacity to do so, or do not have that necessary enough time to complete an article, it is very likely that they will end up producing erroneously written papers and with very low quality attributes. In such a case, it would be just ideal to seek help from expert entities so that the student will get the necessary help to succeed in school.

Unique Poetry Collection Reveals a Deep Relationship with God
May God use these poems to inspire those who suffer

Gilleland Poetry: A Book Review
For me, poetry is often too obtuse and difficult for me to get into. Whether it is the abstract metaphors, or difficult line structure, I end up struggling more than I would like to.

Poetry: An Exercise In Emotion And Vulnerability
?[Henry David] Thoreau is a keen and delicate observer of nature - a genuine observer - which, I suspect, is almost as rare a character as even an original poet; and Nature, in return for his love, seems to adopt him as her especial child, and shows him secrets which few others are allowed to witness.? ? Nathaniel Hawthorne (Journal entry, September 1, 1842)

Poetry in Motion: Woody Allen's Spanish Film 'Midnight in Barcelona' Begins Filming in the Catalan Capital, Spain
Excitement is buzzing in Barcelona as Woody Allen begins filming for his next feature film in the beachside district, Barceloneta. As crowds gather hoping for a glimpse of cast members Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, local business are hopeful the A-list exposure will generate more interest in one of Europe's hottest summer holiday locations.

Poetry "Reborn" Emerges In Thriller Mystery Novel
Since Mohamed Ali–then Cassius Clay–announced that he had written "The world's shortest poem," I have known that I would be a poet. "ME? WHEE!" His triumphant proclamation evoking shivers within my troubled teenaged identity, for I reasoned in rhyme.

Author Debuts Compelling Love Story in New Poetry Collection
New book exposes unquenchable love between Jesus and church

Make Money Online As A Freelance Writer
Are you good at words? If so, you can make a career of it and make money online as a freelance writer. There are so many good opportunities out there. Take advantage of them today.

Satirical Poetry About Tony Blair
All Hail.Is your hospital full of aliens, despite new cleaning firms, Antenna waving buggies, And creepy crawly germs, Then dont waste another second, now were into election spin, Just complain, over and again, and up pops smiley smiley grin.

Outskirts Press Announces Elephants, Alligators, Umbrellas, the Latest Highly Anticipated Poetry/General Book from Tucson, AZ, Author Marlene Tova Fin
Outskirts Press, Inc. has published Elephants, Alligators, Umbrellas: A Book of Poems for A Fast Paced World by Marlene Tova Fineberg, which is the author's most recent book to date. The 6.14 x 9.21 paperback in the Poetry/ General category is available worldwide on book retailer websites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for a suggested retail price of $15.95. The webpage at www.outskirtspress.com/BooksbyMarleneTovaFineberg was launched simultaneously with the book's publication.

Thoughts.com Holds Its 1st Writing Contest
The free blog community, Thoughts.com, has unveiled their first writing contest, the winner of which will be awarded a free 3 day, 2 night vacation for two. Beginning Tuesday, April 1, 2008, all Thoughts.com members are encouraged to submit a 300-500 word essay beginning with the phrase "Hey, I just had a crazy thought. What if ....." The blogger who fills in the blank with the most original and creative thought will receive an all expenses paid vacation getaway not too far from their part of the world.

Poetry Chapbooks: Ten Tips for Promotion
There are several ways of publishing your chapbook. You can do it yourself with a printer and a heavy duty stapler; you can submit a manuscript to a literary entitiy that publishes chapbooks; or you can try a self publishing company.