December 17, 2024

It’s publication day for my strange little book!

Order a copy here.

Vessels was written during a time of disquiet, isolation, and absences, when each day was folded over on itself, false and empty. To keep working, Robert van Vliet challenged himself to build a ten-line poem each day that needed to include five words and a line or fragment from a book, all chosen randomly through chance operations. ¶ He knew that he was too swamped by the quotidian to allow himself to choose the words—they would be nothing but fear, mask, Covid, police, racist, murder, climate, rage… The chance operations allowed him to leave most of the decisions until the very moment he began composing. ¶ The result is a collection of three suites, each seeking a path beyond the polarity of either willfully ignoring the appalling spectacle of those pandemic years or being angrily transfixed by it. Three paths out of mute heartbreak and toward a third space of hope, presence, spirit.

Vessels
December 6, 2024

A poem of mine, Island,” has just appeared at Foofaraw Press.

It’s been edited and revised somewhat over the years, but its roots are very old, dating back to 1992–94.

writing
November 19, 2024

Last, next.

106: Shenandoah (Birch)
107: Shenandoah (Maple)

Two Field Notes memo books side by side: one used, one new

Field Notes
November 17, 2024

My author copies of Vessels have arrived! I guess it’s a real thing now.

You can preorder a copy here. Publication day is in exactly one month.

A copy of my book lying on an ottoman; a fire in the fireplace in the background

Vessels
October 8, 2024

I was recently interviewed by the lovely talking about strawberries all of the time. Read it here.

The experience led me, in the newest issue of my newsletter, to brood over the nature of story and self, and how we think about our own origins. Subscribe here if you want.

writing links Vessels
October 1, 2024

Last, next.

105: Nat’l Parks (Arches)
106: Shenandoah (Birch)

Two Field Notes memo books side by side: one used, one new

Field Notes
August 29, 2024

Last, next.

104: Great Lakes (Superior)
105: Nat’l Parks (Arches)

Two Field Notes memo books side by side: one used, one new

Field Notes
August 29, 2024

Parmenides in Minneapolis in St Paul.

Henry Gould's chapbook, Parmenides in Minneapolis, lying on a table, with a small cobalt-blue mug neaby

readings
August 9, 2024

Had I been born about sixteen minutes earlier, Walden and I would have shared a birthday.

The ragged, broken spine of a very old mass-market paperback of Walden

meta OTD Thoreau
July 8, 2024

Last, next.

103: Kraft Plus (Berry)
104: Great Lakes (Superior)

Two Field Notes memo books side by side: one used, one new

Field Notes