Poetry: I've Always Wanted To Write A Poem By John Yamrus

i’ve always wanted to write a poem 

 

using 

the word 

tautological. 

 

i first 

heard it (saw it) 

in the liner notes 

of a Sun Ra album, 

 

and 

ever since then 

it’s been in my mind 

as a goal or a challenge 

or maybe just for something to do.

 

but,

here ya go...

 

tautological...

 

it’s 

finally 

off my list 

 

and 

maybe it’s

now on yours.

John Yamrus is one of the most prolific writers of poetry on the scene today, He is widely considered to be a master of minimalism and the neo-noir in modern poetry. The relaxed style of his writing can be seen as a continuation of the oral tradition of literature associated with Allen Ginsberg and The Beats, and his poems are best appreciated when read aloud. The unlikely pairing of often dark subjects, combined with humor and irreverence has become something of a trademark of his work. His nearly 50 published books, which include not only poetry, but also novels, memoirs and a children’s book, are beginning to appear in translation, and he is a frequent guest on podcasts and television programs. His acclaimed memoir, The Street, is a look back at his early years, growing up less than wealthy, in a Pennsylvania coal town in the late 1950s. His latest books include: seriously! and Doing Cartwheels on Doomsday Afternoon.