Just received author's copies of "Night Fires," from my publisher (Pudding House Publications), which was a semi-finalist for The Journal Award (2009), also known as the "Charles B. Wheeler Prize." This is an annual competition to select one poetry maunuscript for publication, sponsored by OSU poets. I'm elated with the printing and the cover art. They did a great job. There are 30 poems in the book, a sort of reflection on early events and circumstances that were important to me in my childhood and early adulthood. I hope I was able to provide a different look at what are no doubt common and perhaps identifiable themes. You can order the book directly from the publisher for $10 (not including postage): Pudding House Publications/ 81 Shadymere Lane/ Columbus, OH 43213, or find it at their website: http://www.puddinghouse.com. I also am offering, on a first-come, first-served basis, inscribed copies from my own pile sitting in the study. If you want to reserve a copy, just email me at: enudelman@msn.com and/or send $14 (postpaid) to Ed Nudelman/125 New Balch St./ Beverly, MA 01915
Here's one of the poems from the book:
Matinees
My father abandoned me.
Left me for hours
with the Saturday morning weirdoes
on Pike Street to watch gorilla
movies one after another
while the poker star
went upstairs following smoke
or downstairs or across the street.
God knows where he went
to play his cards.
When he finally returned
I’d be on a swivel-chair
next to the popcorn machine
where a pal from his war
made sure I was discreetly
sequestered, cool and dry
and bleary-eyed.
When I got home, the smoke
from my cigarette-laced clothes
still reeked. And worse,
the gorillas kept on dying.
.
