outlaw poetry and free jazz network

after work

i come home,
walk into the kitchen
and throw my wallet
on the counter.

then my pens,
my cards
and finally
my keys,
which
slide along the counter,
spin,
do a little dance
and finally
come to a stop.

some day

so will
i.

John Yamrus

has been a fixture in American poetry for four decades. Since 1970 he has published 2 novels, 15 volumes of poetry and more than 900 poems in magazines around the world. Selections of his poetry have been translated into several languages including Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and (most recently) Romanian. His newest book, SHOOT THE MOON, is available online from amazon.com Please click on the cover to enlarge.

Part one of a poetry reading by John Yamrus, intro by artist and cafe owner Peter Jon Snyder.

Part two of a poetry reading by John Yamrus.

Part three and final part of reading by John Yamrus at Crave Cafe, closing comment by Peter Jon Snyder, cafe owner and artist

some related articles are listed below:

1. john yamrus | she said Illustration: Jean-Claude Claeys she said “you stink, i can’t stand to even look at you. every time you lay hands on me my skin crawls. eat shit and die you bastard.” as she left the room she didn’t hear him say “i hear THAT, darlin’, i sure hear that.” Please click the cover to see the back. from John Yamrus New and Selected Poems, Published by Lummox Press, POB 5301 San Pedro, CA 90733, www.lummowpress.com with an introduction by Todd Moore. Authors Note: Please bear in mind that this book is nothing more and nothing less than exactly what the...
2. todd moore | how to survive the coming night: the poetry of john yamrus The kind of poetry John Yamrus writes is what most people would tell each other over drinks at three o’clock in the morning if they were conscious enough or literate enough to talk like that. This is not a poetry of metaphor and simile. This is not a poetry of rich literary allusion. Or, lets put it this way, this is a poetry of bare bones literary allusion, the stuff needed to get you through the day or night. Heroes like Steinbeck and Bukowski and though I don’t recall a mention of Gerald Locklin, I think Locklin must mean...
3. john yamrus | hemorrhoids hemorrhoids this time it’s hemorrhoids, and they’ve been bleeding since Sunday. the doctor wants me to have surgery, but i’ve been putting it off. needless to say, it’s a real pain in the ass. i’ve even resorted to shopping in the women’s section in the pharmacy… buying pads for the blood. with not one single shred of dignity left i take my prescription, the preparation H and the pads up to the counter to pay. the girl looks at me and smiles. i can’t tell if she’s just being polite or has already figured out that i’m useless and...
4. john yamrus | dear john… “Dear John: Concerning your most recent poem… as always, it’s engaging and technically correct, but you’re beginning to sound a bit one-note to me. How about trying a poem that isn’t about other people’s poetry – or, better yet, a poem that doesn’t even mention poetry?” hi; i’m writing to you to let you know i appreciate your concern for my literary safety… but, poems are like cookies… sometimes you just get cravings for one particular type. right now, i’m into chocolate chip. that being said, in taking your comments to heart, i went back and checked… i’ve sent...
5. john yamrus | i’ve got… i’ve got a this hair on my nose, near the tip, and no matter how often i cut it, or pluck it, it keeps coming back. damned admirable… don’t you think? Share and Enjoy: ...