Vassily Aksyonov, Say Cheese! (epigraph & opening line; trans, Antonina W. Bouis) 

After the movies, photography of all the arts is the most important for us! —V. Lenin or J. Stalin

When and by which of the two possible authors this quotation was spoken is not known with accuracy.

Ah Lenin’o, ah Sta’ lēēn

Axe  ion  is  off   (& running a’gen then)

Well it’s hardly the new sentence is it …

Take my photo, Koba

tyranny of the signified

It’s like trying to see

the air itself

Your agitprop chop

nixed

— say cheese

Martin Amis, Lionel Asbo: State of England

In his outward appearance Lionel was brutally generic—the slablike body, the full lump of the face, the tight-shaved crown with its tawny stubble.

A novel     a’miss

sweet FU     UK

                Thuggish louts

(en route, NYC)

ASBO signified yob

bruter than signifier boy

Tyranny becomes fetish

one lump or two?

Say please

Ivo Andrić, Bosnian Chronicle (opening line; trans, Joseph Hitrec)

At the beginning of the year 1807 strange things began to happen at Travnik, things that had never happened before.

Strange b’place, Kin v. Art

one brow low one high

Stranger than wingnut

num(b)·er·ology

One ate one nought fewer

non bond·ouble “0” sevens

1807’s a master “Sixteen”

Positive integer, karmic 

numb’er

“Vibrational properties,” they say

One lump v. two

Flight re·route Sarajevo Blue

Donald Antrim, Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World

“Duck!”… From the skies it came, a gargantuan blue tome, one of those Compact Editions of the Oxford English Dictionary, end over end hurtling in projectile descent, pages fluttering and tearing in the wind, a screaming index of printed and bound lexical data, half a language heavy with gravity and gathering velocity. I dove for turf and covered my head as the OED cruised thumping to the earth.

Hurtling screaming index

d’ lexical data

Each ’tum point

a     s  p  a  c  e     ate

inside da’ words

Torque you round

shift yr ground

Ring tha’ blank space

Be you’m 27^th letter

Google say two plus seven

we’s buzzing on

Cloud Nine

Say “Duck!”       Sniper shots

cross street, Sara day-glo

heavy gravity for sure

 Re: “Tyranny [or fetish] of the signified…” Two source critical texts underlie many of these poems: Stephen Fredman, Poet’s Prose: The Crisis in American Verse and Ron Silliman, The New Sentence

 ASBO: (Anti-Social Behaviour Order): UK’s Blair gov’t restraining order for thuggish louts— this novel being Amis’ parting shot at Britain when he moved permanently to NYC. A different type of tyranny/fetish has been causal for avant poetry’s “demolition of the conventional relationship between the active (dictatorial) writer and the passive (victimized) reader…” (George Hartley, Textual Politics and the Language Poets)

  Tra’v’nik, Bosnia: Andric’s birthplace—Obrnuto (Bosnian for “in reverse”: kin v art). The Sarajevo ref is to another Bosnian poet & short story writer Semezdin Memedinović’s biting/numbing war collection Sarajevo Blues (trans, incidentally, by Charles Olson scholar Ammiel Alcalay) with SM’s debt to fellow Bosnian writers Ivo Andrić & Danilo Kiš

 “The new sentence is a decidedly contextual object. Its effects occur as much between, as within, sentences. Thus it reveals that the blank space, between words or sentences, is much more than the 27th letter of the alphabet. It is beginning to explore and articulate just what those hidden capacities might be.” (Silliman, The New Sentence, p. 92)

See previous poem’s footnote re: Sarajevo Blues—ducking sniper shots while crossing streets during the Bosnian war

Stephen Bett is a widely and internationally published Canadian poet with 25 books in print (from BlazeVOX, Chax, Spuyten Duyvil, & others). His personal papers are archived in the “Contemporary Literature Collection” at Simon Fraser University. His website is StephenBett.com

Arti-Blog (AB) : *Shatta Wale Sets Record @ Blue Top Villa 

 #BTV Hotel *.

 It’s sunny day-light and cool evening at the Blue Top Estates in Kasoa, Central Region of Ghana, West Africa. Well, it’s been weeks of thorough event-planning as the Prime Manager (PM) of *Blue Top Villa* #BTV Hotel in the person of Sir *Joel Bremang* and Events Organizer as well Programmes Manager of *Lucky TV*,Mr *Osei* had office meeting with Mr *Samuel Atuobi Baah* (Sammy Flex) as Artiste Manager of the Iconic Dance-Hall King *Shatta Wale*,thus as a means to host him on a show dubbed *Home-Coming Of Dance-Hall King Shatta Wale*. It’s highly publicized event on the main-stream media with both radio and television stations such as *Base One TV*,*Sammy Flex TV* and *Lucky TV* being media partners. There’s influential social media promotions and publicizations to ensure audience attractions.

      Factually, from eye-witness perspective it’s incredible sold-out ticket event coupled with tight security measures so as to ensure orderliness and success. Quite remarkably, at 5pm the surroundings of Blue Top Estate, off Nyanyano Road, started attracting fans of *Shatta Movement Empire* #SME and other music lovers. Specifically, as a means to ensure ticket purchase in order to pave the way of entrance and corporate celebration of the Christmas Eve (24th December,2023) in a grand style. It’s an outlook like Caribbean Carnival! Well, some of the lesser known Artiste who performed in the evening includes: *Angie Wood*,*Odeneho Cannella*,*Don Milla* just to mention a few.

      Indeed, one of the Top-SM-Leader in Kasoa to give worth-while mention is popularly known as *Shatta Sabali*,a close long time friend of the Dance-Hall King *Shatta Wale* as he coordinated well with the entire event planning team in Kasoa. The duo-primary MCs of the show were *MC Barimah* and *MC Big* alongside *DJ Richie*,*DJ E Fresh*,*DJ Crampy* (Baby DJ) as well as Shatta Wale’s personal DJ on his performance selection of songs. It’s evening of fire-works in the air and continuous cheerful chants of ‘Wale, Wale, Wale’ by the multitude at the Event Arena of *Blue Top Villa* #BTV Hotel. Thus, making history as Super-Star A-List Musician to Set Record in terms of populous attendees ‘over flow’ inside the premises and outside various routes of the Blue Top Estate in Kasoa, Central Region of Ghana, West Africa. Believe you me, it’s visible outlook of vehicles ranging from cars, bicycles and tricycles at various part of the residential area. Incredibly, drown captions of the event was like helicopter hovering over the *Blue Top Villa* #BTV Hotel.

      Finally, his ‘In Coming’ I mean entrance of the premises was through strategic back-stage door-opening with enormous security personnel such as the Police, Army, Bouncers as well as Body Guards on orderly arranged queue, viz straight to the stage. Momentarily, it turned all lights-off to bring about thunderous and joyous dramatic stage appearance of Africa’s Dance-Hall King *Shatta Wale* the ‘Multi-Award-Winning Artiste’. It’s beautiful Christmas dawn of 3AM Monday,25th December,2023 as he commenced unstoppable hours of outstanding electrifying performance coupled with dances of ‘Shatta Movement’ #SM fans from all walks of lives. It’s well attended festive season event remarkably sponsored by the CEO of *Blue Top Villa* #BTV Hotel in the high profile personality, Mr *Samuel Bremang* an Industrious dual citizen of United Kingdom ‘UK’ and Ghana respectively. 

       Arti-Blog ‘Written’ By *Ike Boat* 

Robert Fleming (b. 1963) is a visual poet from Lewes, Delaware, United States. Robert follows his mother as a visual artist and his grandfather as a poet. His art is influenced by the artists Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso. My digital graphics series April 1, 3026 Rocky Mountain news report imagines the end of the earth. Each image answers one of the five reporter questions: who, what, when, where, and why.

This series was inspired by my October, 2023 visit to the Rocky Mountains when I noticed that the mountain surface has texture and I wanted to write on it. Further, I was inspired by visiting the Rocky Mountains’ city Leadville, CO @ elevation 10,158′, where I only had 85% blood oxygen and survived @ St. Vincent’s hospital.

I used the computer software Canva to create image layers which makes the illusion of writing on the Rocky Mountains. Follow Robert at https://www.facebook.com/robert.fleming.5030 . Buy Robert’s visual poetry book White Noir, * ARRIVING 11.21.23 white noir by Robert Fleming – Devil’s Party Press (devilspartypress.com).

Mama

 Mother is the doctor for any sickness 
Mama is the country that everyone loves
without conquering
 Mama is joy and sorrow Mama the power
Mama the forgiveness 
One word was created by God To forgive people
 Say it every day
 Call her if they put chains on you
To sweeten it the wound
To bring  peace
My mom, you're unique
 You never told them you were upset With gold I will cherish you 
Chosen person 
 I crown you My mother
 My sun
My compass

©  Eva Petropoulou Lianou
Greece

Mama 

Mama ni daktari kwa ugonjwa wowote ule
Mama ni nchi ambayo kila mtu ana penda 
bila ushindi 
Mama ni furaha na uzuni 
Mama, nguvu 
Mama, musamaha 
Neno muja ila umbwaka na mungu 
Kuwasamehe watu 
Iseme kila siku 
Mwite Kama wana kuzingira minyororo 
Kuweka kidonda afazali
Kuleta amani 
Mama yangu, uko wa pekee 
Aujawezaka wambiye kama umekesirishwa 
Na zahabu nita ku penda na kukujali
Mtu aliye chaguluwa, 
Nakuvisha taji mama yangu 
Juwa yangu 
Muongozo wangu 

"Mama" a poem "Mama" written by Eva Petropoulou Lianou Greece

 Translated into Swahili, the most African spoken language by a Congolese Refugee ©®Charles Lipanda Mahigwe (Malawi)
African Youth Artistic Poetry - AYAP

Charles Lipanda Mahigwe
President

Thanks, 2023!

The year is coming to an end. At the end of each year, the old year is summarized. New plans and dreams are set for the new year. It is a very enjoyable work for me too.

Today, when I look at the past year, I saw a lot of good and bad events. They are all gone and it is impossible to change them. But it is possible to draw the right conclusions from the mistakes of the past year and welcome the new year with strength from the successes.

For the past year, I have tried to achieve my goals as much as I can. Of course, the result is not bad. At the beginning of 2023, my personal book was published in America and was put on sale in 26 countries of the world. It inspired me to create even more. I stepped into the international world. Many of my creative works have been published in international newspapers and magazines. At the same time, I was recognized by the international newspaper "The Daily Global Nation" as an ambassador of international peace. I participated in the II International Congress "Youth Tourism", which left me with beautiful memories and great impressions. I was in the youth circle, in the conversation of my peers.

I actively participated in international conferences and projects.
With my article, I won the 2nd place in the competition of traditional creative works of the Republic of Uzbekistan, "Protect Wealth from Childhood", announced by the favorite newspaper of children and teenagers in Uzbekistan, "Tong Yuzi".

I am happy to say that I spent the year with beautiful memories, kind words, wonderful books and good people. I tried to sweeten myself, my dreams and words, to live happily. So many times I felt infinite gratitude with all my heart. I loved God! There were so many beautiful messages that I cried. I took a risk and trusted him, and it turned out to be good.

But there were many difficulties, problems and worries. I wanted to laugh it all off! I chose long roads and sleepless nights. Because it's all for my future! But I am always grateful to my parents who always supported me in such difficult times. They inspired, gave the best of motivation.

I am very happy now that I am summarizing my two years. I intend to fulfill my intentions next year.

Dear friends, I wish you endless happiness, joy and success in the New Year! Love yourself! Live every moment! If you stay at night work, be fascinated by the beauty of the moon and stars. And don't forget to give thanks for the sun every day!

Shahnoza Ochildiyeva
Uzbekistan❤️

Espresso and Tequila 


Like espresso and tequila our
love is a warm thirst to the spirit.
You make me remember all of 
the blessings and memories we have.

Dreaming of you is as a lover 
flying above a sky made of water.
Your scent is the air of lusty touch,
and the breathe for the thirsty tongue.

The world is made from a beautiful star,
so your heart must be my homeland.
We kissed and cuddled on the longest 
night of the year, we didn’t open wounds. 

Don’t measure, just break my boundaries.
This pack of cigarettes heals me from my 
my long glowing silence and rusty misery.
Take a sip of my liquor and smile on my aches.



In The Midst Of My Sorrows 

When I write about freedom, it’s not 
not a statement against any civilian.
Bullets and gravestones made me laugh 
about how my grandpa judge life as a joke. 

My friend tells me that I should learn to 
say no, does that mean I should under_
_line every drunken moments of loneliness,
and turn them into a thick hanging cords.  

My name never appears on your readings,
Some soft hands have become more dusty 
I wonder if I should leave and let them inhale
all the leftover breathes of this mad universe.

There is no hope from the past, but why do
I need to feel optimistic about today’s battles?
With both of my hands, I’m writing day and night 
of how relaxing I am not in the midst of my sorrows.

12/24/2023

B.H.P

___________