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The POLITYPOP Reviews: 'Americana', poems by Rich Murphy
Millions of us flock to Instagram every day to pretty up our worlds. We bathe our selfies in the best possible light, hiding wrinkles and brightening smiles. We crop out the water-stained wallpaper in our living rooms and show off our new couches instead.
Rich Murphy’s poems in Americana, however, are the opposite of our social media-friendly pictures. In this collection of older and new work, Murphy deftly focuses on U.S. culture, but he accentuates and then explores its flaws. And he does so beautifully.
Murphy—winner of the 2008 Gival Poetry Prize for Voyeur and veteran of such publications as Poetry, Grand Street and Rolling Stone—is a master of compression. He offers complimentary imagery and analysis in compact little forms. Most poems take up less than a page but pack oversized punches. In “Viva Viva,” he concludes a study of Las Vegas with this stanza:
“The casinos’ arms mine the last nickel
from the cookie jar brokers and the nightclub
dancers while tumbling the amateur acrobats dry.
Clothesline daredevils land on their backs
in their workweek beds, mulling
the disaster of a missing shirt.”
Consider the elements in play at the end of this piece: tourist-gamblers, dancers and a slot machine move together towards disaster. There is little tapering in Americana. Murphy often adds to his poems until they must end. This relentlessness is good for poetry, especially since many of us are now imitating Billy Collins, the master of verse that fades towards simple final images and thoughts.
Murphy is also wise enough to avoid partisan villains and heroes. In “Cables Home,” he hails 20th-century American immigrants as people who “survived hunger, abuse, molestation” and then “went on to graduate from ivy halls.” But their grandchildren can only say, “’It’s mine, it’s mine, it’s mine.”” There’s no purely conservative or liberal bad guy behind this. All of us are the monster.
Long-time Murphy fans will be pleased to read a healthy amount of punchy word-play. This is his signature. Murphy also makes smart references to myth, Whitman and the Beats’ obsession with the American highway. But he is shrewd enough to use these references as accents only. Like any good photographer, Murphy knows what needs to stay in his compositions.
If there one thing me, Grimlock, love as much as America it’s Jesus. Me, Grimlock think he right in Bible when he talk about how dumb Communism is and how good guns and dinosaurs are. These are me, Grimlock favorite parts! Jesus is all American libertarian just like me, Grimlock! This is why it make me so angry that stupid liberal bozos want to fight war against his birthday. Me, Grimlock see war on Christmas everywhere! In neighborhood, people put Christmas trees in gutter like they trash! And trashcans filled with torn wrapping paper with pictures of Jesus’ dad, Santa on it. Wrapping paper no go in trash, wrapping paper go on presents for me, Grimlock under tree in living room of Ark!
Yesterday me, Grimlock went on walk to clear head. Just down street, stupid neighbor Jim taking down plastic Santa from roof and pulling Christmas lights off house.
The really piss me, Grimlock off.
Me ask Jim why he hate Christmas, and Jim say he love Christmas. So why then you, Jim take lights off house, me ask. He say something about it being second week of January, but Me, Grimlock not dumb! Me, Grimlock know a war when see one! So me, Grimlock run over to Jim and push him off ladder. Jim yell, Jesus! and me, Grimlock say that too little too late, and begin to punch Jim’s house. Boom! Boom! Boom! Jim stand up and stagger a little and yell, you, Grimlock, why you do this? But me, Grimlock know better. After fighting Decepticons for thirty years me, Grimlock know there no mercy in war--mercy for weak! So me, Grimlock begin to breath fire-breath all over Jim’s house until whole thing covered in flame! Bwa-ha-ha! Puny human Jim no match for strong Grimlock! Especially when me, Grimlock use fire-breath. Me, Grimlock point at Jim and tell him to keep Santa in Christmas, and me go back home to Ark.
When me, Grimlock get there, Prime tell me he need to see me. Stupid Jim call police on me, Grimlock. Prime say he took care of cops--remind them of all the times Autobots save planet, Jim’s house included, and promise Autobots rebuild house. This is why Prime such a dumb leader. Me, Grimlock hate Prime. Prime say me, Grimlock need to relax. Me, Grimlock say he no understand--Grimlock a soldier for Jesus in war on Christmas! But Prime no listen to me, Grimlock. Instead he say Autobots here to defend humans, not burn down their house over misunderstandings, so please, Grimlock, no use fire-breath anymore unless fighting Decepticons. Me, Grimlock tell Prime, no deal! Jesus ensured fire-breath as me, Grimlock’s right when he wrote Second Amendment! Need it to defend against Big Government when they come to repress me, Grimlock, not to mention defend Jesus and Christmas and Santa. Prime say the choice is me, Grimlock’s, but next time there be repercussions. Typical soft liberal bozo Prime. Me, Grimlock no care. Me Grimlock will continue fight war, alone if have to, to make everyday Christmas.
Me, Grimlock have been hearing a lot lately about ‘Fiscal Cliff’. Me hear it in three weeks country going over it unless stupid liberals decide to stop hating successful people and giving money to deadbeats like me stupid liberal friend Ratchet. He not independent! He want money for free, money hard working REAL Americans earn hard way, REAL Americans like me, Grimlock! Other day Ratchet, Jazz and me, Grimlock hanging out in living room of Ark and they talking about how it all Republicans’ fault that country going over cliff. This is dumbest thing me, Grimlock ever heard! Ratchet say that both sides need to give up something. He use a big word...compartmentalize, maybe? He so stupid! Me, Grimlock tell him this not Russia. Would he, Ratchet want compartmentalize the Constitution, because that’s what he saying we should do. Bwa-ha ha ha! He no see that one coming! He say all kinds of things about how it bad for whole country, not just stupid liberals or smart conservatives, and it cost everyone, but me Grimlock was too busy laughing to listen. Ratchet so stupid.
Stupid liberals always falling off cliffs. One time, me, Grimlock have to save stupid liberals Ironhide, Hound and big-government Optimus Prime when they fall off cliff into river. But that only because Wheeljack and Ratchet put stupid Memory Components on we, Dinobots’ heads. Mind control, just like government want! If you too stupid to not fall off cliff, no expect me, Grimlock to come bail you out. Me, Grimlock believe in personal responsibility and me not responsible for others’ well being. That not American way! You fall off cliff into water, that your problem, not mine, Grimlock! Me, Grimlock don’t know where Fiscal Cliff is, but it not matter. When stupid liberals fall off it into river, this time me, Grimlock, won’t be there to pull them out.
This past weekend the Politypop lost one of it’s great icons. Larry Hagman’s career was long and accomplished, but when he passed this weekend the one character he will doubtless be remembered for is the ruthless oil magnate J.R. Ewing from the prime time soap opera Dallas.
J.R. was more than just a popular character on a television show, and more than just a cultural icon--he was the physical embodiment of the will-to-power, individualistic ideology of the Reagan era. J.R. was ruthless and cutthroat in both his personal and business dealings, adhering only to the morality of the bottom line, even when it drove a wedge between him and his family. And (in most cases) he profited pretty well from it. As reward for his C.R.E.A.M. business philosophy, J.R. drove the expensive cars, he lived in the large home, he wore the expensive clothes and, well, he got shot (it bears mentioning that J.R. is a Second Amendment hero for not preaching gun control after that little episode).
While we mourn the loss of a great actor, we can at least take solace that the character of J.R. didn’t live to see what America’s becoming. He won’t be exposed to the horrors and profit loss green energy and more fuel-efficient cars would bring to Ewing Oil. He won’t have to live in a world where people look for a government handout rather than just getting start-up money the old fashioned way, like he did, from their parents. And, most importantly, he won’t have to live in an over-regulated America that limits backdoor dealings and the ways in which you can turn out the lights on competitors for profit. It’s good that he passed peacefully before the 99% shot J.R.
Remember the old days when prominent musicians would get together to form supergroups? Bands like Blind Faith, Crosby, Stills & Nash and even Led Zeppelin? Do you long for those days? Well, Meatloaf, Big & Rich and Randy Owens might dampen your sentimentality.
We at Politypop are very pleased to introduce a new, regular column by 1980s pop culture icon and outspoken libertarian, Grimlock. It is our hope that he, Grimlock will provide some much needed balance to the left-leaning/liberal/communist slant this website has taken of late. Enjoy!
Me, Grimlock an American! Me like freedom and American Way and America! This is why me, Grimlock no like taxes. Me hate taxes! Me no like big government come take me hard earn money. Me want bite them and crush them because me, Grimlock is very strong--strongest of all the Dinobots! This is why me their leader.
Me idiot friend, Ratchet, he say me wrong. Other day, we hanging out at Starbucks and him ask me, Grimlock how much me pay in taxes. Me, Grimlock smart! Me know answer off top of head so me say, “None! Me libertarian!” He say that no fair, boo hoo! He say it responsibility for me pay, especially since me use and do so much damage to public property all time, like roads and streetlights and Army and things. He say people like me, Grimlock who make more than $250,000 need to not abuse loophole and pay fair share. He say all other Autobots make more than this off diversified investments them make back in ‘80s when Transformers more popular, and them pay fair share plus give lots to charity. Him say Prime, Ironhide and all other morons feel it them civic duty. Bwa ha ha ha! Me laughed so hard me caramel macchiado come out nose! This is why me, Grimlock so smart and liberal Ratchet so DUMB! Me no make $250,000 a year, me make $32,000! Ratchet say that not right, that me need pay taxes. Him say typical people who make this much pay taxes. Well, them stupid! Him Ratchet typical liberal. Want REAL American like me, Grimlock pay for him bleeding heart, socialist causes, like roads and streetlights and Army and things. He say me committing Federal crime--that me, Grimlock could go to jail for tax evasion and that this serious. Me tell him this America last me check and Americans hate taxes and if judge is an American him understand and no send me, Grimlock to jail! This why me hate liberals. Me have to explain EVERYTHING to them!
Then Ratchet ask what happen to all me, Grimlock money from the old days, but me no remember. ‘80’s was crazy time for me, Grimlock.
At end of day, government is no signing autograph at conventions for nerd, government no make appearance at kids’ birthday, bat mizvah and bachelor party. Me, Grimlock pure cash operation, and what Uncle Sam no know, no hurt him either. Beside, if me claim income, me get kicked off Welfare! And that would be dumb.
If you enjoyed Romney's comedy routine at the Al Smith Dinner tonight, or if you just want to see him acting proud of Massachusetts healthcare reform, you'll enjoy this speech he gave at the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in Boston whilst Governor.
We're not going to spoil this with words. Rather, just sit back and bask in this moment of Politypop in its purest form, along with Christina Aguilera and Hillary Clinton.
After Mitt's change of course last night regarding tax cuts for the wealthy, he might think about incorporating this as his new campaign theme song. What do you think his theme should be?
Before she fired up the 2012 DNC, former Michigan Governor Jennifer 'The Gesticulator' Granholm lit a fire under three bachelors onThe Dating Game'in 1978.
Clint Eastwood leave you hungry for more grizzled, Hollywood tough guys making dire prophecies about what should happen if Obama gets re-elected? Then how about a heaping plate of Chuck Norris!
1,000 years of darkness! The end of America! Socialism running rampant! The video you need to see.
Just in case you wanted to know who Nicki Minaj was voting for, or if you were just wondering about her preferences in the boudoir, you can learn about both here (explicit content).
Spoiler Alert: Mitt Romney and back door deliveries.
Well, another RNC has come and gone. And, while our predicted Reagan hologram was a no-show, we did get an extremely low-fi Obama hologram, complements of famed Hollywood legend and star of some of the greatest outsourced western movies of all time, Clint Eastwood. Back in my day we didn’t have all those fancy-pants holograms like you’ve got today with your mirrors and lasers--you stood there on stage for the world to see taking back-talk from an empty stool like a loon and you liked it--you loved every minute of it! While this ‘speech’ has become the stuff of legend (not to mention one of the greatest Politypop moments of all time) it really wasn’t that far removed from the rest of the speeches delivered last week, most all of which were directed at the Pretend-ident Obama. In the world of the RNC, Barack Obama is a socialist, a radical and a do-nothing who’s politics are so dangerous American will collapse in on itself like a black hole should he be re-elected. And, thanks to Mr. Eastwood, we now know he's got a smart mouth and a thin skin. Of course, these claims are as make-believe as Mitt Romney saying he wanted Obama to succeed because he wanted America to succeed, or most all of the claims Paul Ryan made in his RNC acceptance speech. They might as well be campaigning against King Friday XIII. But it doesn’t matter. To the Right, Obama might just as well have been sitting in that stool, in the flesh. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people actually thought he was there. Who he is in reality is inconsequential. Their minds are made up.
Here’s the thing. Mitt Romney is like the majority of Americans in that he’s, you know, human. He has paternal instincts, he feels empathy (to a degree) for his fellow man, and he likes money. And that’s pretty much where the similarities end. We got to hear a lot of this in his speech (indeed the only memorable lines were those about his being a father) and see some of it in the ‘get to know Mitt’ video they showed right before Mr. Eastwood began deriding the policies of the last Bush Administration to an empty stool. The video was meant to give us an inside look into the personal history of this man, a history that would tell us more about him and show us the true Mitt. There were some moments in it, to be sure. Home movies of kids running at the camera, a BBQ in the backyard, Ann Romney waving off the camera--it was straight out of the opening credits to The Wonder Years. And the moment that said the most about Mitt was, in fact, in that video. Though nobody really seems to be talking about it.
One of his boys, in the Romney family kitchen, spoke to the camera about his dad’s changing a light bulb in the fixture above the stove. He describes how his dad, notoriously cheap, decided to take an improper bulb and force it into the socket rather than go to the store and buy the correct one (‘hardware stuff’ does not include light bulbs, it seems). He goes on to say that this created another problem: as the incorrect blub was too large for the eye-level fixture, it protruded far enough to blind whoever was at the stove cooking. Mitt’s solution? Duct tape a piece of cardboard to flap down in front of the bulb. How’s that for problem solving! If Mitt can half-assedly handle a kitchen light bulb, I can’t wait to see his solutions to a nuclear Iran, a massive trade deficit with China and the countless other pressing issues that face the President on a daily basis. The last time we had a President who listened to his gut and did things his way rather than the right way, it didn’t turn out so hot. It’s this short-term mentality that’s responsible for the housing bubble, the economy tanking, the career of Sarah Palin, and, most recently, an old guy yelling at an empty stool on stage. President Obama talks about action and consequence, and plans for the long term--an economy and an environment that lasts. Romney talks about the quick fix and, literally, letting the oceans rise. Hell, when the time comes we can just duct tape some cardboard along the coast.
