Atomic TIme

Atomic Time by Elissa Rashkin (2019) This is an excellent 70-page book of poetry—from Nixes Mate Books—by Elissa Rashkin, who has published books on Mexican women filmmakers and the Stridentist Movement, as well as the most beloved books on my shelf (under the name of Elissa Joy—from Pas de chance, in collaboration with Ian Phillips). There is a lot of humor here—but not the standup comedy type—it’s often resigned and knowing—but worth unearthing, because it adds to the richness of the poetry. A lot of sadness—but not the sad-sack kind—but real, wailing mournfulness—what we, most of us, or all of us, guard ourselves from—but is part of life. Prayers, of course, and songs—religious songs, hand in hand with punk rock—not the football player kind—but the whispered, sometimes secret, but miraculously surviving. Love, of course—and the cinema, Godard, and Belmondo, and Chantal Akerman. Also, clowns and angels. I’m not summing up—I’m not that dumb (well, I am, but I’m not summing up, here)—you’ve got to read the poems, and then forget them, and then read them again.