—of an octopus: an archite|x|tural awareness of words by Diane Sahms

—of an octopus: an archite|x|tural awareness of words is the conscious awareness of each poem being aware of itself on the white space of each page. This consciousness allows for each poem as text &/or a visual object(s) to become consciously aware of itself.

Topography (as form) is the driving force in the arrangement of these visual poems on each page. The poem in its truest essence dictates its form, shape, and appearance on the page much the same way that visual art does to an artist. Poetry can appear visually as Art’s minimalism, POP ART, conceptualism, abstract expressionism, realism, surrealism, et cetera, and in some cases as combinations.

I am particularly interested in poetic language as it relates to music, color, art, philosophy, life, et cetera. The emotional aspect of all artistic symbols seemingly blends together into a language, into a shared human experience. Hopefully, the reader will see each poem in this collection [of letters / words / symbols / language, as language / as well as the arrangements of visual imagery / text / graphics - constructed from Word 2016 / paintings (in the public domain) / my photographs] and have the awareness that the poem knows that the reader is looking at it (like art) and reading it, even judging it, as one does with subjective works of art. All things being well, there should be an aliveness (active awareness) between the reader (viewer) and the poem (being viewed / read). The intention of each poem is that it will be met in a shared poetic space of consciousness between reader and poet. Every poem is subjective, meaning it exists as subject-object and therefore, must be met in a viewer-reader’s poetic zone and/or realm of being, existence.

The linguistical aspect of the Modernists’ artistic language was a building block and seemingly blended into a common poetic language and a shared human experience, which should be built upon, challenged, and even reworked in this, our 21st century’s new sense of poetics, that is, the ongoing evolution of experimental and contemporary poetry.

Overall, this collection of experimental and contemporary poems is the next step in my poetic journey’s innovative and creative quest and aims to demonstrate the existence of each poem’s awareness of itself, in an ever-evolving interpretation of what Poetry Is.

Diane Sahms, a native Philadelphian, is the author of eight poetry collections, latest, Blues, Prayers, & Pagan Chants. She was awarded first place in Judith Stark’s Poetry Contest, Partisan Press’s Working People’s Poetry Contest; and a poetry grant from AEVentures Foundation. Published in North American Review, Northern Virginia Review, Brushfire Literature & Arts Journal, Valley Voices, Sequestrum Journal of Literature & Arts, Chiron Review, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania Literary Journal, The New Verse News, #Ranger Magazine, Amsterdam Review & elsewhere. She’s Poetry Editor at North of Oxford. https://dianesahmsguarnieri.wordpress.com & http://www.dianesahms-guarnieri.com

Paperback: $20. ISBN: 978-1-105-91128-6

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