Undercurrent Blues Has A Rhythm of Its Own - Poetry Book Review

On 17 July 2005 Cahuenga Press released undercurrent of Blues and James Cushing (Cahuenga is a cooperative press and undercurrent of Blues je14. books have been published since their inception in 1989). The collection includes poems written from 1989 to 1991 and 1997 to 2002. If you're like me, you can immediately ask where from 1992 to 1996 he was gone. Mr. Cushing explains the skip in time in his Author's Note at the beginning of the book. Basically, the poetry included reflects the first 25 years of his writing life.

in undercurrent of Blues , songs from 1989 to 1991 from Mr. Cushing's first book, You and the Night and the Music published Cahuenga Press in 1991. titles of the songs are inspired by 20th century American songs that became jazz standards. U Fly Me to the Moon Mr. Cushing's lyrical style matches the desire for transport in this old standard, but it gives us a deep longing in his lyrics.

we have chosen roles (insomniac shepherd, complaining nymph) from

a basket of fruit. Orisons increase every third house, shine like

broadcast ended, and we wanted to, to live near the sun, that

constant offerings.

His poetry from 1997 to 2002 was a reaction to the death of both parents and at the end of his second marriage - to put it in the author's words, "a darker stimulus. Despite the darkness of stimulation, these songs are sly sense of humor, acceptance of life slings and arrows. Of these, Turn in April displays by recovering hope:

I think we are moving, slowly and patiently,

within a large walled garden along the eastern path,

and I think I can assume we'll keep walking, lightly

and kindness, while the garden, and we fall off the edge of the

, where the next dream begins in a rush to kiss the camera.

undercurrent of Blues and James Cushing asserts that music shapes us but also encourages readers to play with its rhythms in order to fully incorporate its influence on our psyche. In the second half of the book, Mr. Cushing acknowledges the darker moments of life, but offers hope and a little lesson in maintaining one's sense of humor.