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The Mark Twain Speech
for mark mcclane
you talk about frontiers
that only dead men
& drunks can see
not about the blood
& sweat that goes
into words that won’t sell
the stories of heartbreak
& what time can do
to beautiful things
everything turned to bone
words careening off your tongue
& down a river
slow to offer amnesty
to those in a sinking ship.
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Check out our interview with John Dorsey on his book, Letting the Meat Rest.
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About the Author: John Dorsey lived for several years in Toledo, Ohio. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including Teaching the Dead to Sing: The Outlaw’s Prayer (Rose of Sharon Press, 2006), Sodomy is a City in New Jersey (American Mettle Books, 2010), Tombstone Factory, (Epic Rites Press, 2013), Appalachian Frankenstein (GTK Press, 2015) Being the Fire (Tangerine Press, 2016) and Shoot the Messenger (Red Flag Press, 2017). He is the current Poet Laureate of Belle, MO. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He may be reached at archerevans@yahoo.com
More By John Dorsey:
Creatures of Our Better Nature
Image Credit: Chase Dimock “The Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau”
As It Ought To Be 