Coming WorldGone World (The Abomunauts Are Coming To Piss on Your Lawn) Poems in the Dialectic of Abomunism (1993-2006) By: Paul Corman-Roberts
Reviewed By: Melissa Hansen
“Coming WorldGone World (The Abomunauts Are Coming To Piss on Your Lawn)" written by poet and literary activist Paul Corman-Roberts, published by Howling Dog Press, 2006, has been written in the “Dialectic of Abomunism”, the creation and brainchild of Bomkauf, or Bob Kaufman, author of “The Abomunist Manifesto” nestled in his collection of poetry “Solitudes Crowded With Loneliness,” New Directions, 1959. The Beat Poet Bob Kaufman must be mentioned in direct reference to Corman-Roberts’ “Coming WorldGone World”, as the structure and fluidity of Corman-Roberts’ poems are immersed with the ghost and style of Bomkauf. This being said, Corman- Roberts has authored a collection of poetry that pays homage to a poet who is often overlooked in relation to The Beat Era and its heroes.
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“Coming WorldGone World”, written in the years 1993-2006, conveys a political as well as emotional grip on the reader. The poems reflect feelings and memories of a Northern California, or more specifically Bay Area aura. There is a slight variety of style that opens Corman-Roberts’ poetry. One of the authors’ obvious methods is what I would describe as “built poetry”. Each line in many of Corman-Roberts’ poems can be taken as a single image, or statement. He seems to write line, upon line, precept upon precept. Some of my favorites include: “Cheating on Fiction”, with the opening line “poetry is a cunt”. It could stop there, but doesn’t, and good, because it’s a damn straight, kick-ass poem.
“Christians In Hummers” opens with, “A Season of Wolves and Stallions has come”, the line deems prophetical and an ominous eeriness surrounds the reader. “Bug U” made me shiver with its “Delirious ice forest”.
Describing “Coming WorldGone World” is a little complicated, I must admit. There is a dose of the academic in Corman-Roberts’ writing, and I believe a pre-requisite to have read some Kaufman, which moves the poetry into better understanding and enjoyment for the reader. There are some great prose pieces as well, easily read, easily understood. Some poems you might be forced to read twice, “wait, what?” I would ask myself… “oh…” And though “Coming WorldGone World” is quite political in its content, it surprises the reader with delightful breaks and breaths of soul quality; “The Unsaid” is a beautiful piece. Something making something ring true.
“Abomunist writers write writing, or nothing at all.”
-Kaufman, from Notes Dis- and Re-Garding Abomunism
Paul Corman-Roberts is the poetry editor for the long running and critically acclaimed literary e-zine Cherry Bleeds and a member of The Guild of Outsider Writers. Please visit Paul Corman-Roberts' website to learn more of his work and to purchase Coming WorldGone World; he needs beer money.
Melissa Hansen lives in San Francisco where she writes, works at public libraries, and is a co-editor of poetry for The Guild of Outsider Writers. She has published and forthcoming work in various literary zines.
Last update : 29-02-2008 21:16
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