Books & the Arts

The Planetary Currents The Planetary Currents

We live on the third rock from the sun In our living rooms We handle the remote and touch off integrated circuits compelling               content, non-integrated circuits such as the chitlin’ circuit, and               disintegrated circuits such as the extended family now stretched               across six continents Plus one under ice The rapid flows of global capital Put us to sleep and wake us We come on in on a wing and a come on We slide right across the ice We stop to catch up, so like a breathing tree   Instead of reading about the unconscious we decide to enter it, that is, by               falling asleep Dream of a document signed by CEO William K. Tasker by which we are               offered a position as director of corporate communications for a               company called Correct We are romantics still, who stand and/or sit in shade Looking straight down to the valley floor Vertiginous, lofty, cerebral, lazy and tight This poem may be recorded for quality assurance purposes There we encounter planets whose colors we shall not forget

Sep 27, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Kit Robinson

The Planetary Currents The Planetary Currents

We live on the third rock from the sun In our living rooms We handle the remote and touch off integrated circuits compelling     content, non-integrated circuits such as the chitlin’ circuit, and     disintegrated circuits such as the extended family now stretched     across six continents Plus one under ice The rapid flows of global capital Put us to sleep and wake us We come on in on a wing and a come on We slide right across the ice We stop to catch up, so like a breathing tree   Instead of reading about the unconscious we decide to enter it, that is, by     falling asleep Dream of a document signed by CEO William K. Tasker by which we are     offered a position as director of corporate communications for a     company called Correct We are romantics still, who stand and/or sit in shade Looking straight down to the valley floor Vertiginous, lofty, cerebral, lazy and tight This poem may be recorded for quality assurance purposes There we encounter planets whose colors we shall not forget

Sep 27, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Kit Robinson

In the Middle of Life: On Tadeusz Rózewicz

In the Middle of Life: On Tadeusz Rózewicz In the Middle of Life: On Tadeusz Rózewicz

A Polish poet’s searing and confused lyricism.

Sep 27, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Jennifer Grotz

Twin Legacies: The World Trade Center and Manhattan’s Development

Twin Legacies: The World Trade Center and Manhattan’s Development Twin Legacies: The World Trade Center and Manhattan’s Development

The World Trade Center paved over a patchwork of industrial docks and community businesses to become a planned community catering to high finance.

Sep 22, 2011 / Books & the Arts / The Nation and Francis Reynolds

The Truth About the Civil War

The Truth About the Civil War The Truth About the Civil War

Too many Americans have fallen prey to narratives that erase the role of slavery in the war’s origins and legacy.

Sep 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Eric Foner

Whispers of Jackie O

Whispers of Jackie O Whispers of Jackie O

The former first lady speaks from beyond the grave—and shows how far we’ve come (and haven’t).

Sep 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Katha Pollitt

Proving Grounds: On the World Trade Center

Proving Grounds: On the World Trade Center Proving Grounds: On the World Trade Center

How the World Trade Center turned Manhattan into a planned community.

Sep 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Alyssa Katz

An Ambiguous Medium: On Lee Ufan

An Ambiguous Medium: On Lee Ufan An Ambiguous Medium: On Lee Ufan

The aesthetic illusions of a Korean artist.

Sep 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky

The World House: On Malcolm X The World House: On Malcolm X

A biographer's flawed attempt to rediscover the politics in the decidedly political life of Malcolm X.

Sep 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Aziz Rana

Tulum Tulum

in ceasing to exist gods create in air an emptiness where the light comes to settle all their monuments gather around the edge the earth underneath congeals its ancient waves see the god descending from a pediment he was supposed to induce the rain’s downfall it’s the sky today that drops into the rock to very gingerly liberate our heart and elongate the view toward the end of time same at its core to the Caribbean Sea its green water took the divine in its folds all then ends up in rumbling and murmuring all began in an identical manner   (translated from the French by Eléna Rivera)

Sep 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Bernard Nöel

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