Flying Over Baghdad With Sylvia Plath: Experiences, Through Poetry, With Poets And Poems In Iraq And Afghanistan - Softcover

Adkins, Paul David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 099769436X ISBN 13: 9780997694369

Publisher: Lit Riot Press, 2016

Synopsis

Poetry as hero, not heroic poetry. Just masterful verse which performs extraordinary work in extraordinary circumstances. No one has, likely, ever uttered the words, “Read Jennifer Kronovet’s collection; it will save your life!” That is, until today.Because it has, for me. All the poets introduced here have literally plucked me from flames. I had to make sense of Afghanistan, Iraq, The Surge, our Senate’s approval of The Surge, my family’s struggles in my absence, and the moral decrepitude of the undertakings of conflict, these ones, and all the ones before.Years ago, poet Donald Finkel introduced me to the writings of Albert Goldbarth. His piece “Knees/Dura-Europos” made me grasp the overwhelming continuity of war, its timelessness, and how Goldbarth confronted it with lines like, “This is what’s happening now,” and, “This is what’s going to happen.” So, the questions is, What is poetry doing about it? Because we know war happened, happens, and will happen again.Well, if you ask the poets represented in this book, they can truly say, “We are denying it an enclave;” “We have named it what it is;” “We have plowed its fields with salt;” “We have refused to clothe or feed it.” There is no need to charge barricades. These poets have denied war the ability to traverse their land, in the time-honored guerilla fashion of refusing an enemy sustenance, support, a base from which to operate and raze surrounding country. While I served in President Bush’s wars, their work became a series of safe houses, places I could find sympathy and support.So now, having departed these wars, reviewing my experiences, I pin these tiny medals on the poets that did a hero’s work, pulled me from the fire, fed me bread and wine in the dark, warm corners of their books.

About this title

About the Author

Paul David Adkins was born in North Miami, Florida, and lived his formative years in Fort Lauderdale. From there, he attended Mercer University, earning a BA (History), and, later, Washington University, receiving a MFA (Poetry) while studying under Donald Finkel, John Morris, and Eric Pankey. Fellow students included Catherine Rankovic, Brad Richard, and Jonathan Smith. After graduating from Washington University, he joined the US Army, serving for over 21 years. During his enlistment, he toured Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He earned three Meritorious Service Medals in support of the Army’s Tenth Mountain Division. Upon returning from Afghanistan, he began writing poetry after a twelve-year hiatus in order to process his experiences there and, later, in Iraq. In 2009, he enlisted the assistance of poet Kelli Russell Agodon in order to further polish his artistic endeavors, allowing him to better share his war-related work with a wider audience. With her encouragement, he branched into reviews, fiction, and podcasts. In 2013, poet Sarah Cortez asked him to compose pieces addressing Mexico for an upcoming anthology. La Doņa, La Llorona, his 2016 Lit Riot Press debut, stemmed from Cortez’ inspiration. He has published three chapbooks: Stick Up (Blood Pudding Press), The Great Crochet Question (Kind of a Hurricane Press), and The Upside Down House (Yellow Jacket Press). He works as a counselor and adjunct instructor within the SUNY University system, and teaches in a state penitentiary. He lives with his wife Melanie and children Lily Talitha and Malachi Ray in New York.

About this edition

• Publisher: Lit Riot Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 099769436X
• ISBN 13: 9780997694369
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 108