Journalism
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About this ebook
Journalism is the second collection of poems by Kevin J. O'Conner. Although some of the same themes explored in the first collection (Separation Anxiety) appear in this collection as well, there’s also more variety—in the form of weird dreams, peaceful vignettes, commentary, the occasional bit of humor, experimentation with poetic forms, etc.
Journalism continues O'Conner's straightforward approach to writing, which favors more direct, expressive language and simpler forms, making the poems more accessible than "typical" poetry. In that sense, this is poetry for people who don't otherwise like poetry.
As before, the contents are primarily drawn from O'Conner's personal journals, with many of the poems written as part of National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo). This time, however, the visual element is provided by sketches taken from those same journals. Writes O'Conner in the book's Preface: “Obviously, I’m not going to win any awards for my drawing skills; still, the sketches that I have included have their own peculiar charm. I mean, where else are you going to see the likes of the ‘Zapmaster X’ in action?” Indeed.
Kevin J. O'Conner
Kevin J. O’Conner (56) is not your typical poet. After 30 years of writing only sporadically, Kevin J. O’Conner returned to poetry in 2013—first as a creative exercise, then for the therapeutic benefits. Since 2015, he writes every day, exploring the craft of poetry through monthly writing challenges—‘my ongoing effort to write something that doesn’t sound like something I would write’, he says. Kevin’s poems explore isolation, memory, life’s small moments, and the experience of starting over at ‘a certain age’—always with an emphasis on straightforward expression. As of Spring 2019, Kevin has published eleven collections of poems, the latest of which is WISHES SOMETIMES HAVE CONSEQUENCES, plus four volumes of ‘love notes’ to the days of the week. His poems have also appeared in Raven Chronicles, Spindrift, The CDC Poetry Project, Lament for the Dead, and the anthology VOICES THAT MATTER, and as part of the Clay? VI (2016) exhibit at Kirkland Arts Center. When not writing poetry, Kevin can be found copy-editing documents from far-flung places, attending open-mic readings, designing books, and contemplating what to cook now that he is tired of soup. He lives in Bellingham with his mom's neurotic cat, Cleo III. (updated 28 October 2019)
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Journalism - Kevin J. O'Conner
Journalism is my second anthology of poems. Because I chose to work with such a specific concept for Separation Anxiety, I had to leave out several poems I really liked because they simply did not fit.
Although some of the same themes may appear in this collection, there’s also more variety—in the form of weird dreams, peaceful vignettes, political commentary, the occasional bit of humor, experimentation with poetic forms, etc.
Both the poems and the ‘illustrations’ have mostly been taken from my journals. Obviously, I’m not going to win any awards for my drawing skills; still, the sketches that I have included have their own peculiar charm. I mean, where else are you going to see the likes of the ‘Zapmaster X’ in action?
—Kevin J. O’Conner, 23 June 2014
PART ONE
Hesitation
26 April 1987
a space between decisions
barriers
against a solution
to this pressing problem
a moment
of silent contemplation
or a second thought
29 April 1987
I crawl to the door
the blood on my hands
with eyes opened wide
I’m looking inside
for the sound
of a heaven worth knowing
9 May 1987
five photographs
hang on my wall
and in my mind
the summer heat
has come early
this year
perhaps
you will go
before
the autumn rain
makes damp
the air
18 May 1987
a smile
to twist
a thousand dreams
eyes
to cast
a thousand shadows
the night time
gives us shelter
from the howling winds
and heavy rains
disheveled hair
from under covers
greets me
under the morning sun