You and the Night and the Music

Cushing, James

Cahuenga Press

Poetry. Of the poems in THE LENGTH OF AFTERNOON, Cushing writes: Most of the poems in this book concern the way human time astonishes with its simultaneous creation and dismantling of meaning, cycling its children through dreaming and waking, dancing and sitting still, living in intimacy and living in solitude, acting in history and in one's imagination, being borne from the water to the shore and then back: 'activity, not communication' (John Cage). The scared schoolteacher poets and literary hustlers who control the poetry scene in this country will have to choke on this book. Cushing's work proves that one can be part of the insular atmosphere of the academy and still write with brave, bold, noble strokes of poetic integrity -- Michael C. Ford. Cushing is the 1994 winner of Renegade magazine's Warlord of Subculture award, and teaches on the English faculties of California Polytechnic State University and Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo County.

The Length of an Afternoon

Literature & Fiction

Poetry

<p>Poetry. UNDERCURRENT BLUES is made up of both a sequel to his previous work, You and the Night and the Music, as well as a series of newer works written from 1997-2002. "Cushing's work proves that once can be a part of the insular atmosphere of the academy &amp; still write with brave, bold, and noble strokes of poetic integrity"-Michael C. Ford. Cushing is the author of two previous books of poetry, and teaches literature and creative writing at Cal Poly.</p>

Undercurrent Blues

<p>Poetry. "To read PINOCCHIO'S REVOLUTION is to be afloat in a sea of signs and wonders. Cushing infuses his shifting, surreal vision with undercurrents of deep feeling"--Amy Gerstler. "The singer arrives 'with two hands and one guitar,' an encyclopedia of topics, and 'a poem, sure and rank and flashing.' With the quick adroit use of imagination, transformation, and language, these poems become romantic, soulful, abrupt, philosophic and just plain wise--all happening on an elevated level. But the elevator turns onto a pathway into a land of new rules and combinations, 'seeing everything for the first time.' This history of language endures"--Joanne Kyger.</p>

Pinocchio's Revolution

Tangled Hologram