Selections from Alpha/Beta Rhythm Poems a collection of 42 poems by Jonathan Potter, 1982 (plus an appendix containing four poems added in 1983).
*Note to paid subscribers and any of you considering scrounging in the couch cushions to cover the upgrade (a mere $5/mo or $50/year): I am still offering a signed copy of Tulips for Elsie to new paid subscribers (shipped for free in the U.S.) while supplies last. I’m also offering a PDF facsimile of the manuscript of juvenilia cited above to any and all paid subscribers, old or new. Alpha/Beta Rhythm Poems was created by Jonathan Potter at the age of 17 and published in a limited run of three xeroxed copies (as far as I can remember) of which only one copy is known to be extant. If you are currently a paid subscriber and you’d like the 53-page PDF, just drop me a note in the comments or in the new supercool Substack DM and let me know you’d like a copy. I’ll send it to you via email. If you’d like to check out the PDF but you don’t want to commit to a paid subscription, I would also accept a one-time donation of $5 in my tip jar. In any case, I am grateful that you’re here taking a look at my stuff. Thank you!
1. Farmer Ratched Nothing can or ever will beguile her constant crank cremation—slowly ripping roses not belonging in her wh atfield; kindly crushing petals with her talking; mulching all the little different flowers into shit-like mucus, which she tosses back again to help the wh atfield's growing. Whatfield's growing tall and moving only when the wind says “dance” and then it dances only as a wave big as all nothing. You and me and all us little whats—we are the farmer (don't be shocked). We're happy dancing one and all and all and all. Weee... 2. this punk not was johnny rot ten no ly don no rotten i think was the sonofabi tch who spi t and pi st and sid ney yes sid was his friend 3. so(s i le )u( n) n d(ce
Skills. You had and have them and so good to read the results.
I really enjoyed getting to examine how your mind looked at poetry at that age.