From: sheilah@wam.umd.edu (Sheila Herndon)
Subject: Re: Where and how to publish?
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 23:56:38 GMT

In article <1992Oct4.153849.29394@doug.cae.wisc.edu> mccullou@cae.wisc.edu (Mark McCullough) writes:
>
>Anyone out there have any ideas about how to get some poetry published?


This is not a difficult question. (although, I should talk, I do not try to
publish anything, nor have I ever tried - not skilled not disciplined) 
You could ask someone at the library. I like to ask people things. Even
easy questions, You get into a conversation and find out magic colors of
things you didn't know that ever had to love looking out of a window.
"How do I publish my poems?" you ask the beautiful dark librarian who is very
busy. If it is fantasy day, he will look at you with his iron forged glowing
eyes and tell you how to talk over the sounds of pounding hammers and greased
metal wheels. Maybe even he will give you a book to look at. He shows it
secretivly to you and with hesitation, first watching your forehead to
check for lice and ideas. He will also probably check your ears to note if you
have bushes or trees in them. He would stand in awe if you smelled like a
hummingbird, but he has not smelled a person like this for a very long time.
Generally he is very busy, and covered with dust, because he waits for
the girl who is a boy or maybe an old man who smells like a humingbird.
(it doesnt' matter if it is a boy or girl.) When he sees the hummingbird and
literary shoulders the he jumps up and his face dances like Tom 
Bombadil (who is much related to Tom Wachtel, if you have ever watched him)
and the dust falls from his face; he smiles and fondly hugs his arms and
talks like an old friend. 

	If you want to publish poetry, first you write some poems. Many poems.
Or perhaps read many. Someone talked about Rilke, I love rilke, he is the
best poet in the whole world (I havn't read much of him, but sence I am 
crazy I can say whatever I want to and Rilke is the best poet in the whole
world and he has a beautiful name. Rainer. I have also heard that Pablo
Neruda is a beautiful poet. I imagine that if you met him you would want
to touch his jawline, for I know that when I am in love with someone I want
to sketch their face in my hands. For example. Matt. Who else? A beautiful
Jawline. ane below his eyes. cheeks. But you should write. It is natural
to suspect that if you wanted to publish poetry you would have to find 
a beast that does this task. "Publishing." Tales have often been told to
horrible...and so I will not speak of these things. I do not know where to 
find a place that publishes. I am sure your suspicians are correct. That 
there must be a reference book that lists magazines that publish. (I know
I should be putting the word in quotes. All words should be placed inside
quotes. If only to keep us safe! to cage them in! AAAAAAA! The insanity of
fear of words! wail wail waaaaaaail!) I once heard of one. shush so that
I can whisper its name. Have you ever whispered? Have you ever whispered
and listened to yourself? These things are to old to speak when young folk
are present so I will not speak of them - the book, it is called, or rather
a book, is called, Writers' Guide or even Poets Guide? but it may be that
in my senility I have forgotten the names. the names are not there and
never where, I forget all names, and all names can mean their opposite but
what of names that have no opposite? what will I do then, I will be very
lost trying to find a degree? (as I am now, at college, years away).

Just use your head and think about these things boy. As thought you were a 
river boat. How would you float?

(I'd better leave now. because boat and float are just two ridiculous to 
rhyme and I am embarrased.)
-- 
I am always wrong. Don't believe me ever.
stark raving sane  sheilah@wam.umd.edu