The Subway System

‘The Subway System’ is a poem from Bel Schenk’s groundbreaking verse novel Every Time You Close Your Eyeswhich is set across two blackouts in New York. The first is the famous blackout of 1977, when this excerpt is set, and which was remembered for widespread looting and arson. The second blackout, in 2003, forms a counterpoint – but you’ll have to read the book to find out more!

 

The Subway System

People on the platform recall the location
of the exit light’s glow and follow the sound
and energy made by the movements of others.
If you’re a reliable sort you give directions
to anyone who will follow and anyone who will trust.
The rats are hushed.
There seems no need to scurry under the railings.
The A train is somewhere under the city.

There, deep beneath earth and concrete,
under grass and overhead footsteps,
people are stuck inside the carriage.
They hold things, feel their dirty way.
Shit, yes, it’s dark. No sir, you can’t see. You can’t see.
Inside the people, blood rises and falls,
breathing grows faster. Shallow.
Deep inside is exactly what you are thinking right now.

Read more of Bel’s beautiful verse in Every Time You Close Your Eyes here, or Ambulances and Dreamers here.

'The Subway System' from Every Time You Close Your Eyes by Bel Schenk

Wednesday links!

Too many things to share with you all!

First of all, look at this beautiful book:

<em>Every Time You Close Your Eyes<em>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The latest from the incredibly talented Bel Schenk, Every Time You Close Your Eyes is set during a power outage in New York in the seventies. It’s an amazing one-sit read. Buy here!

Secondly, are creative courses killing Western literature? Horace Engdahl seems to be making the case that grants are softening our authors up too much. What do you guys think?

Thirdly, the gorgeously dorky kids at Porter Square Books in the US have put together a list of 12 awkward bookseller moments. Yes. I know what they’re talking about. For all of them.

AND the always awesome Junkee crew have put together a list of eight places to go in Adelaide to soak up our arts scene. Good start, kids, but there are so many more! What about Dark Horsey Bookshop? The Jam Factory? Mercury Cinema? Those are all within ten metres of each other! The Mill, E for Ethel, Hillbilly Hoot, and – oh, I don’t know – the whole damn city during any of our numerous festivals.

Hot damn, Adelaide. You do good for a little guy!

Last, but certainly not least, we have some Edwyn Collins, courtesy of editor/typesetter/designer extraordinaire Michael Deves. Anyone remember the scene from Empire Records? That movie turns 20 next year.

And, just like that, I’m old.

Happy Wednesday!