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RD. Armstrong (Raindog).
On/Off The Beaten Path: The Road Poems.
Lummox Press (PO Box
5301 San Pedro, CA 90733-5301) ISBN: 978-1-929878-99-4.
Pages: 114. Publishing Date: June 2008. Genre: Poetry, Trade
Paper. Price: $ 15.99
Subject: Three long
poems about road trips taken in 1999, 2000 and 2001 to meet
poets and see the world. The last trip was interrupted by 9-11
and contains musings on what might happen to us as a result
(turns out to be mostly true). Excellent introduction by Todd
Moore (excerpt to follow).
Where to Purchase: for a signed copy, order from
www.lummoxpress.com - $19 (PPD) or at www.createspace.com/3343893
or through Amazon.com
Excerpt:
"Taken as a trilogy JOURNEY, ON/OFF, and ROADKILL form a kind of
late twentieth century early twenty first century attempt to
recover, recapture, or reinvent a part of America. Also, taken
together these three books become a long poem about the
rediscovery of America. And, the rediscovery of the self.
Beginning with JOURNEY, there is that starting out, that
overwhelming desire to get the hell outta Dodge, to BE somewhere
else as long as it isn't home. And, as is the case with any
"journey out" poem you begin with where you are and you talk
about what you see as you leave. The old world is best seen in
your rear view mirror. That's the past. In all likelihood, in a
week or two you will have to return to that place you are
leaving behind. But for the moment, you are existentially and
totally free. You have nothing to look forward to except the
surprise of where the road will lead and the feeling that you
are open to the world."
–Todd Moore
"On/Off the Beaten Path is an engaging work. You read as
Armstrong sometimes struggles with his language against the
landscape; but when both merge at times into that magic whole,
it is powerful…"
– John Macker
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