Unlikely 2.0


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Editors' Notes

Maria Damon and Michelle Greenblatt
Jim Leftwich and Michelle Greenblatt
Sheila E. Murphy and Michelle Greenblatt

A Visual Conversation on Michelle Greenblatt's ASHES AND SEEDS with Stephen Harrison, Monika Mori | MOO, Jonathan Penton and Michelle Greenblatt

Letters for Michelle: with work by Jukka-Pekka Kervinen, Jeffrey Side, Larry Goodell, mark hartenbach, Charles J. Butler, Alexandria Bryan and Brian Kovich

Visual Poetry by Reed Altemus
Poetry by Glen Armstrong
Poetry by Lana Bella
A Eulogic Poem by John M. Bennett
Elegic Poetry by John M. Bennett
Poetry by Wendy Taylor Carlisle
A Eulogy by Vincent A. Cellucci
Poetry by Vincent A. Cellucci
Poetry by Joel Chace
A Spoken Word Poem and Visual Art by K.R. Copeland
A Eulogy by Alan Fyfe
Poetry by Win Harms
Poetry by Carolyn Hembree
Poetry by Cindy Hochman
A Eulogy by Steffen Horstmann
A Eulogic Poem by Dylan Krieger
An Elegic Poem by Dylan Krieger
Visual Art by Donna Kuhn
Poetry by Louise Landes Levi
Poetry by Jim Lineberger
Poetry by Dennis Mahagin
Poetry by Peter Marra
A Eulogy by Frankie Metro
A Song by Alexis Moon and Jonathan Penton
Poetry by Jay Passer
A Eulogy by Jonathan Penton
Visual Poetry by Anne Elezabeth Pluto and Bryson Dean-Gauthier
Visual Art by Marthe Reed
A Eulogy by Gabriel Ricard
Poetry by Alison Ross
A Short Movie by Bernd Sauermann
Poetry by Christopher Shipman
A Spoken Word Poem by Larissa Shmailo
A Eulogic Poem by Jay Sizemore
Elegic Poetry by Jay Sizemore
Poetry by Felino A. Soriano
Visual Art by Jamie Stoneman
Poetry by Ray Succre
Poetry by Yuriy Tarnawsky
A Song by Marc Vincenz


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Three Poems by Michael Aro
Selections from twenty-three poems derived from random word selections


12399

get your food anyway you can you can
easily if you have any brains one

or two steady tricks a ready answer
no curious morsel sticking out that

might attract treacherous cunning hotly
pursued fresh appetites made of talons

teeth claws all those sharp pointed things that might
soon without conscience or consequence make

tasty work of you an example two
ants distributing nightingale on toast

to their friends at a feast every one cock
up till muddle water swept over them

all throat and navel unlucky chance sat
near evil horns and all above them on

a bow filled with long branches hunting gifts
vengeance an unkind well-earned gratitude

from one good-bye friend to another grinned
as the prowling danced in air above them

it could be said this was all done with aid
of advice given to one crouched safe in

his garden before nightingale's song had
at long last each with jest killed floated off




49865

sustained by such boldness as keeps a prince above his enemies you learned early never weaken yourself with flatterers but choose men wise enough to speak truth to power without hesitation or fear yes well look what that got you an emperor's ruin a fortune in kept sheep this barbarous dominion utterly exhausted art the florentines for crying out cloud everything and everybody rules and more rules exterminated famous people valor liberated mercenaries correctly rendered evil citizens a trained phrasemonger not exactly shakespeare's talent but good enough artillery sufficient injurious characteristic affairs shouted to the public never before anticipated privileges an abundance of fly peasant-clothes to party in fame contrary experience spiritual recourse hostile enterprises diplomatic missions great abilities in choosing adventures a palace in ravenna a river near romagna benefices out the behind a life of possession consolidated food supplies your own country to play with slavery and contempt banished counsellors future power soldiers impossible to mention pernicious difficulties bondage with you on top a very easy mark up a but full of prisoners and you keep all their property calvary and other luxuries thoroughly obstinate immense humours double or even three times the usual human powers gardens filled with herbs your own literary society liberality towards all a fine collection of stones too many ghibellines increased foundations ancient courts of one kind or another ecclesiastical principalities cleverness enough to be needed your own street name member ship in the justice league not too rank under arms wars that make more friends than enemies four seasons to the year more ducats than you can count women standing in line to get at your you know what what more do you want




31586

posing in police uniforms
(a national impulse to be sure)
the courage to believe
that ideas lead to ideals

give every man play
and often after dark
they rise as gangsters
like the bogie man

who dropped among mortals
with a grin has exhausted
himself with the opportunity
to drink from a very successful

system as it were a lamb
warm and red and wet
men devouring ambitions
never think of heroines

as for youth they learn
the world is one case
when opinions allow men
laws on a silver platter

such men obtain a good life
first of all home duties
lighted thick carpeted falls
bubbling forth upon themselves

family pleasure as well
unerring companionship
education instead of knowing
the constant joy of movies

public words make preachment
proofreaders bless a poison
that makes the rich world gaudy
injustice a mysterious current

it stirs the best of many
living with the question
should we analyze ourselves
or take the window

ordered and filled hedges
read the other fellow's struggle
as a drama won in advance
imbued with money or worthless

as an archer bends the bow
to the muddy atmosphere
he was as all others
who tried but could not hope

the gentle tragedian appeared
a basin of sadnesses
his life his sweetheart
his pantomime

no matter how hard he tried
every beautiful thought
would degenerate into
the simplicity of a cravat

the illusory desire for laughter
the mirror red eyes hair loss
the morning bath admits
itself capable of a bad end

our friend roseate and beautiful
developed through lack of interest
presents in the after hours
the back of the apparel guide

death fit for the occasion
a veritable dreamland
ilk to the last breath
the scenery in ribbons

he is our preparedness
we know no better way
the tendency toward quality
as strong as it is dangerous


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Michael Aro, also known as Michael Harold is an artist and technologist. Lots of different kinds of art. Not so many different kinds of technology. His web site is www.michaelharold.com aka www.azazaza.com. It used to be just www.azazaza.com, but his friends always seemed to have a hard time getting it right (Did you say "zaza aza" or "za zazaza" or "azza azza"?) He lives in Shreveport, Louisiana.