I’ve been carrying mark Stratton’s Tender Mercies (The Pancake Truck Press, 2011) around in my bag for a few months. Mainly it was so I wouldn’t forget to write something about it, but it’s taken me this long. The old blog has fallen down the priority list somewhat these days, but periodically I get the book out, read a few random poems and then stick it back in my bag. Now it’s started to feel like a friend tagging along from place to place offering snapshots and images from dreams and nightmares. It’s a friend who doesn’t explain himself but the conversation is good and usually interesting.
The Cowboy rides
through lead guitar dynamics
a single stream of time
signature changes–from “Tender Mercy #28D”
That’s the sense I get from Tender Mercies, a collection that began as a series mark posted to his blog about a year ago or so. Sense is a funny thing too, because it doesn’t always make sense to me. I don’t always get what mark’s getting at, but the ride, the language, is a pleasure, and sometimes a line or two finds a place in my mind, takes root and won’t leave me alone. So the book goes back in the bag and I carry it around some more, sometimes forgetting it’s there only to be happily surprised again.
I misplaced my words
I kept them in the lee
Of a tow sailThey went well with
Collard greens
Or a glass of milk.–from “Tender Mercy #17b”
Earlier this year, mark asked me for feedback on the manuscript and a blurb. I offered those, but I kind of wish I’d had the year to do it. Maybe the blurb would have been better, at any rate. I say that simply because after nearly a year of hanging out with these poems at hospitals, the dentist’s offices, school, who knows where else one finds a few moments to read, I just like them more and more the better I get to know them. I still see a lot of poems about connection and disconnection, love and loss, though, but they get funnier or sharper or wiser with time and rereading. Sometimes more mysterious too. I think good poetry should be like that.
Toxic rains fall not
from only the heavens.
Domestic gods and
Dusting share the blame.–from “Tender Mercy #14”
In addition to Tender Mercies, mark has just released a limited edition chapbook called Postmarks. There’s also an interesting interview with mark at Jessie Carty’s blog. mark blogs at AGGASPLETCH.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
James, I am so pleased that you took the time to review the collection.
Thank you.
I do so love his little book of poems- I have mine nestled up on my bookshelf- and take it down to reread the poems- I loved the ones you highlighted. You mentioned that the book has become like a friend tagging along with you wherever you go– how I loved that thought!