In the past few years, the press has become a haven for chapbooks of found-poetry and/or focused on T.V. shows/series. That is one reason that we delayed the acceptance of this collection from Sarah Nichols; we needed to put some distance between her meditation on HBO’s Westworld and Chelsea Bodnar’s exploration of . . . Miami Vice.
I knew that I wanted to accept These Violent Delights as soon as I read it. The poems capture the existential yearning of Westworld’s androids as they brush against humanity. What does it mean to be alive, to have agency beyond programming and artifice? Some of the poems also blend in found language from J.B. Ballard’s Crash. In her blurb for the chapbook, Jan Bottiglieri says, “Each page crackles with energy, an electrical current created through ekphrastic connection. Nichols doesn’t merely describe her source material; she creates a rhythm of interrogation and discovery.”
From “Bernard Speaks of Delores”:
“Her voice
in my hands,
remote, all
instrument, all
injuries,
her death-paint
immaculate.
Her body, that
metal
Armageddon.”
Just in time of the Holidays! Available now on the Titles page.
Also, we’re going to make a second attempt at a reading featuring Sarah and Chelsea on Dec. 2 at 7:00 PM (EDT). Email greybookpress (at) gmail (dot) com if you’re interested in an invite.