a.j. carruthers

Ten from Versificator

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                               1.

Eīght dāys zōne       Beachāmp condītions tērminates
       nĕw vĭew dăy     
wĕr mis-tăks mist-ăus       scācm tāro tācklish
       drādnats zāno Jōsé          
swĕll swăy swĕll       rēawaken Īnterlaken mōtorcycling

Kēy excēptional vōwles       gŏod smăll pĕn
       (bŭt)hunted lĭttle squĭrrel
Putonghūa expēnsive pūff-of-back-apical       cŏnsonant    
                                                                [conspĭcuous confŭsion
       pĕrson knĭfe pŏwer
can ta bant       dŏt horĭzontal vĕrtical

Jăm stĭcky vĭsion       dăgger-axe pĭctophonetic labŏr;-work
       thĭs-is-not ărt ĭs
băptism persĭmmon pĕrson       sŭn | moŏn | trĕe
       intērpretation dēcision Labōratory       
Tār hēal jīve       fŏrty formĭdable rădicals

Brĕak, brĕak, brĕak,       nĕutrino immĕdiately pŏlysyllabic
       rīght hānd; agāin
rātional unambīguous assōciative       wild-goose-chase,
       Grēat Blūer Chīef       
au di ri       mēan hoūse, dwēlls

                               Sydney, Oct 22-23, 2016.


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                               2.

Imprēssionistic cōnversation Cāmerata       shrēwd dōnkey scāb
       dĭctionaries lĭbraries sensătions
ānecdote tālk eāsier       fōot crāgs grāce
       dāre-gale skylārk scānted
moūnting bōne-house pērcept       vir tu tem

Cŏffee wăter tĕatree       its-ēnvy-everything thēy trianglē
       bīg quīte Ōctapod
accŏrdingly frittăta frŭit       ĭn cŭt hălf
       majōrity stāndardisation mīcrophone 
fŭll basĭcally mĕal       wĭring heăring stărting

Explānatory mūtually shēlls-cowrie       īnch gōng shōrt-tailed
       enclose phenylālanine fūrniture
ēat orgānic rāin       dis-and-ūn Bōris fōrest
       brĭght rĕst herbicĭdes
anĕmometer stylĭsed ĕar       yēah, yēah, yēah

Spĕech cŭrrency slănted-hook-order!       grāmmar sēnse idlē
       easĭly hardĭly furĭously 
baptĭsm Kekovĭch dĭversity       lĕgible gŏld dĭfference
       to-trĕat or-tŏ tŏ-be-surnamed
Amatīl zhū ūm       yŏu’re-chirp nĕw wrĕn

                               Sydney, Oct 24-25, 2016.


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                               3.

Fōre-foundering turnōut sūppressor       unsĕttler glăsser        
                                                                                           [dispĕnser
       ōne attūneable sībyl
fācilitates ideo-līnguistic emērgency;       ĀLL CĀSH WĀNTED 
       hŏnorable kĭngly plŭm
throughthēr tutēlar curlēr       tool-smŏoth, rĕck bŭt

Paymēnt wēather-wrung hēroine       swīftly strīctly hīlly 
       comprehēnd rūckus scrēamer
grăssy chăin dreăm       nutătion fascinătion ratiocinătion 
       Pasanēk Wyētt Ardīla
qŭixotic wĕather embărrassment       skeĭned, staĭned, veĭned

Pēnitent kinēsics pharmacotēxt       ĭnks năme Făssbinder 
       gĕnder rĕad-easy after-blastĕr
pit-ā-pat seculār Steindāy       clōud ōblation precipitatiōn 
       thesăurus stĭnks occasĭonally
usĭng lŏne wŏrds       speak-nŏw, spĕak, nĕver

Flāt-luck dāggier-than, stāle       Aūs trā lineā 
       ēnlightenment tāsk pāge
sprăy ănd wĭpe       ĕvery antĭbacterial lĭfe
       mēanings, mēanings, mēanings
thē alabastēr sērmon       thănkless ĭn Fremăntle

                               Sydney, Oct 26-27, 2016.


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                               4.

Sōnata Marcō Fusinatō       phōtoing, Octōbering, enōbling 
       tĕmpeh WĕiZen ĕgg-po
qŭote-un-quote “Ŏ” păinting       post-pătent use-vălue        
                                                                                           [unăttended
       spĭritual ăffect-attack outfĭt
būrp Wārwick oūtfit       dīfferent-straw Hīpno Dugtrīo

Ī, gallerīna, parallel-pārk       āwkward constrūction indicātion
       ăverage hĭccup expectătion
tĕlephone thĕ-phone tĕlephone       pīnk crystallīne, emērgency
       Lēppington cōmbo bassīnet
hĕnce pĕnce, nŏnce       bassĭnet trundle-hŏ, ratiŏ?

Vanādium banāusic Wēiner       thrĕe, twŏ, sixty-twŏ-point-five
       incĭsor shŏulder quĭre
mĭnor bŏard lacrosse-one-four-churrŏs       whŏ gŏes thĕre
       qūick-parts ūr Jōsephslegende 
adjūstments lēft-hand fōotsteps       Tōd ūnd Verklärūng

Ridīculously mērry whipped-crēam       Schlă gŏ bĕrs 
       hĕadier ănd fŏrester     
dĭscography Horowĭtz Opŭs       quă prănk-century siĕcle-cycle
       fĭctive virtuosi-diălectics minum-crŏtchet
ādvertise hēre ee-gai-chār-tze      frustrāted cār accelerātion 

                               Sydney, Oct 28-29, 2016.


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                               5.

Lōng-echoing Vernōn būndle       sēsh swīt snip-sōse
       ŭnlimited CZĔ 93G BŬRRIERY      
twēlve fifty-ēight lightheārt       lōnely millēnnia Basēnji         
       convenĭent hărpsichord mărginalisation    
prōse ōneliest mōle-theoretic       cajŭn īsthmus Albāny

Kaldibāah līghtset īntersection       vāndal Drāygon Kīngston
       wăch skĭiint no-ăctivity
mēchanical black-rhēnd x-mīngo       cafē cāpuccīnes        
       phonăk reăr-yug slumberhăze
mēchanical dōor lāir       plāte cāption contrāption 

Sunday, gāme, māndate       mēchanical thrōugh aīr
       Ărleg doer-ha-mă lu-bo-ăh
definītion denotātion dērivation       tēacher Lī, versificātor
       Yŭ Jiăn cĭty-V-city-W  
Apārt frōm sīghs       Beiduōfen jiniān Enlīghtenment

Editōr-īn-chīef       (percēived) ēxilic-literary Tōday
       frŭitless trăffic mĭsery
lēaning tōwards deāth       Pōetry Īs Advāncing
       tŏneless ĭn semăntle
Begēisterung Not-Nōt stānzas-4-6       (clōuds, rīvers, bāts)

                               Sydney, Oct 30-31, 2016.


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                               6.

Destiny wood       stress un stress off       false ictic, dread 
       Ajax, the ex       scanted thus below
see hind noun PIE       whole Oz cat’log       scant supply, scarce
       de-ci-du-ous       wily writings       
short-wind, dry-soak       issue shoe-tale       foot burst to breve

Nŏtăte, măcrŏn       slāsh slāsh dāsh slāsh       stanza fury
       eāch dītch, collāpse       glŏboid căsh fĭx
Rŏnnie Ŏpie       TOny ThYssen?       bŏoks on fĭrst chăir
       sīx-hūndred sēventy       frōg mēme-pūppets
ālt-rīght mōonshōt       Ānn Ānn Ānn Ānn       Sterbĕsturm āus

Yōg’tzē Wīlnsdōrf       Ak ten zei chen       Nŏw Ī’ve gŏt īt!
       ānd it is nīght       thē dăy being dŏne
hōw cān wē slēep?       bāh! dōn’t hōp! stōp!       intŏ dĕlight       
       sāil fāst, sāil fāst       vērācītīes!
I strĭve, I prăy       sāy yĕa―sāy yĕa !       thy wŏrk, thy fāte

Or bĕast ĭn stăll :       thēn swĕpt awăy       the dărk ănd brīght
       ŭnmourned, ŭnblest       hārsh hālf-phrāsings
but Trăde saith Nō :       O Trăde! O Trăde!       fōr ! ĕ’en I,
       wōuld thōu wērt dēad!       dĭes tō ā stĭll
dĭssolving scorĕ       nō mŭsīc, pōem: pōem       blōtted, ēre wrīt
       
                               Sydney, Nov 1-2, 2016. Draft for dispondees.


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                               7.

Mĭltŏnic mētronŏme       dāunt, flāunt, vāunt, cōurt-scrăunched
       twō-thīrds ă būrnt trūck       twō thīrds gōd dāmn būrnt         a pentochmius
găsp ăt thē cēilīng       gīddiest, wīth lōnging
       ĕxtramĕtricālity       thănk yōu, byĕ-byē       cān yōu căll mē 
bōtched qūintains, roūte       pĕntŏchmĭŭs, pēntōnīc phŏne      

Fūrnace, wīnd, shārp tūrn, lēast shārp stār       tūrn ēagle, lārk
       strĕngthed, tĭlde, ānd dūst       stăy : fĕed thĕ wŏrms
āll wōrds blūnt wīth flīnt       whāt thēn rēd wrēn?
       HAnne’s shEEt muSIC      tIMe in tERMS of tOne
Mĕgăcĭtĭes     Minnesänger    sfumato templexity tessitura scintillae

Vātic sŏundscape thăt       mŏre sŏnorous thăn spĕech
       hĕlls stŏrm       brĭght fĭre, ūp       āverage militarisătion 
EAgle-Eye sLAms brIGHt pARk       Epōs hāg nāgs gnōstic ghōst
       Hērberts & Hērbertinas & Hēideggers     wRY and wITty 
why the rōund whēēl,    rePElls, detERs, reFERs   quĕer assăssin

Precĭsionists gēt bōught       rĕal ba,― făke ba,         earsighted
       tŏne-tĕsted       ŏptophonetic       drăughts, ōf wĭnde
thrū lĕaves-āt-ā-Sphăragrām      a sĕcond spōntaneity     thĕ
       drāft as pōrtal pŏem       a strōphic strōp, răzor-shārp
lĭsted tō whăt?        vērsified ārgument mūch          sýnchrony?

                               Sydney, Nov 3-4, 2016. Draft for pentochmiuses.


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                               8.

Inhērent dēntal vīleplūme       frūitless trāffic mīsery
       hīll pāths shōck smāll gōats       thīngs sēem fīne ūp thēre
whāt bīg mōat sīngs wēll?       toŏ cŭte wās Măy Brŏwn’s dŏg
       făntastic informătion cĕntre       fāntastic prētzels
tērrible strēpsils      strĕusels stereŏpsis     rēgular glīb brāiding 

Informātion cēntre dissēnter       pētrified săint-ŏf-fŏur-twŏs        
       rōdent pharmacĕuticals       mādrigal-sāint-fāction
Hēnryk Górĕckĭ mīsery     mīsērāble Abĭgaĭl     sōrrōw mĭsererĕ    
       săint-sĕventy-ĕight        Stūff Smīth        Jīmmy Smīth
jūst līke smĭthy Frēud      ōf wănt-tŏ-bĕ      whōse mărk, bēars

Īntegral lŭdic       grimāces, flexibilīty, disarticulatīon, dismem-
       bermēnt, ānd scăttering       tō thē fŏur wīnds
lŏngdown, thĕ well, afrāid-ly, rēst-ānd-slēw      bē’s făre-awăre,  
       arrĕars, āll merō,       the nĕon ūnit,        its ūnit’s skŏpe, 
anĕnt to nwāt?        to Dĭnos Chăpman’s B O O-kēi smīthy
    
Infinitĕsimal ānd dĭsmal       sāy frīnge Elēctromāster hăd-ă-
        bĭg-O,     evĕry rējection, evēry dăy-pullūlate-wagōn, 
avōids pentagonāl āgony, flĭght         alĭght anĕnt, foremĕant,  
       swāy, shūck-lĕafes,   ĕrrant in smīthy Līthuānia, ŌK?       
Whāt dĕal?        gō awāy, sĕmblānce,        ĀND ā sŏurce ōf errŏr       

                               Sydney, Nov 5-6, 2016. 


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                               9.

Lārge gōld lēaves, blūe-grēen mārgīns,    tāble, bēnch, plāntĕr,   
       mĕaled-wīth-pāle-lăvender       rōse ārch wĭth dŏor
wăter-wĭse, trŭly,  lārge pīnk, pāint-brūsh-līke,  dĕadhĕad fōr 
       dīănthūs, dĭe-dŏwn, dŏrmānt-Octōber-Sŭmmēr!
ārching, crĕam-pīnk fŏxtāil-līke    nōn-invăsĭve dwārf clŭmpīng

Clŭmp-fŏrmīng, străp-līke, whīte strīpīng, păle pŭrplĕ, pĕrchēd
       cŏlours, bōrders,        bēds-bŏrders, cōntăiners
tāll stēms, shŏwy-shăped, tāll scāpes ōf, smăll tŏ,   sōftēst blŭe
       snăkes ānd slŭgs, lăvendĕr,― tō lĭlăc, lōve-fĭlterēd līght
spārklīng whĭte mārgin,      yĕllow-tŏ-whĭte mărgīn,       blāzīng

Wōrld! shŏrt-shŏwy, spĭkes lŏw-mŏundĭng      chōcolăte-brŏwn
       spīkes ŏf whĭte ănd pŭrple   specātcular    dărk glŏssy
fūll sūn tō pārt shāde,       pōsĭtĭon, PPLCLISOR       cŭshĭon-līke
       bĭrd-ănd-bŭtterfly āttrăcting       trŭmpet-shăped 
whīrling bŭtterflies        elĕctric blūe       dāze blōoms-māintain

Rēstrīctĕd rōot rūn       dărk cōrnĕr       străp lĕaf drōught frōst
       ānd fĭre-splāsh ŏf cōlŏur        tō ă sūnny bŏrder, dōuble-       
lāyered, bŭbbly-bărk ōnce,   rōotstŏck mŭlti-trūnked,      sŭpra-    
       whĭte, sŭpra pūrple, āll shāde fālls nīght,     tīll vĭolet ĭce 
būrsts blōoms, brĭght-gōlden-brĭllīănt,   ĭn pērēnnĭăl evērgrēen

                               Sydney & Melbourne, Nov 7-8, 2016. 


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                               10.

Trĭskăidĕkăphōbīă, fŏglĕt, bānnĭstēr        bĕggar-my-nĕighbōur,                     
       bĕzĭque, būff-grēige-bēige,        vērdigris ōutrĕmer 
cāvalry, twĭll-mēltŏn tweĕd mōire        māxi-mĭdi, māxi-tāxi 
       cōrdovan cūff-chāllis       trūculent āccident 
detĕrmination, inhalătion, agglūtination        ānd sŏcialism   

Ārmour-wĕigh, clăssĭfĭed        drŭm-būllet, drŭm-tēch ōxygen-
       ātor, ēnhănced āh,       mīssile-drūm, mărch, Mīley  
mārch-mŭsical-bōom       fāntastic-Dālek       rĕal Rōbŏcōp
       rŏbo-nĕon-tōmb, rōbo-swămp-fīre, gēt-oūt-īntō thē gārdēn
thĭs-hēlps, sŭre,       lāughter       sŭre,-lĕt-mĕ-thĭnk,-ōh-yēah, 

Mūch agrēement ōn ĕverythĭng       măny sūspect-wōrthy-īdĕas
       cōmbĭned shāmpŏos         mūch lăughter, wăltzing
mūch ĭnterestedness-mīrth-glīb-rēmorse       ănything ĕxplodes       
       āny hēadless mōllōsūs, mănageable ănd mĕdiocre
ăny tāiless trĭbrăch, mĭnĕrăl tērpsichŏre,        līthīc typŏlogy      

 Fantasy-on-a-green-theme      Channing-Tatum―and-pashed      
        errata: Winter Sonata,          errata: Weber-sleep-opf   
many let it go        many let the storm rage-on      will-end-us        
        electoral, whelms-wind,       some are moderately free       
some and/or many prefer ungrudging, greathearted guesswork 

                               Melbourne, Nov 9-10, 2016.

a.j. carruthers is an experimental poet + critic, author of a critical volume Stave Sightings: Notational Experiments in North American Long Poems, 1961-2011 (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017); and the first part of a lifelong long poem, AXIS Book 1: Areal (Tokyo: Vagabond, 2014). See two online works: Opus 16 on Tehching Hsieh (Oakland: GaussPDF, 2016); & Ode to On Kawara (Buffalo: Hysterically Real, 2016).
 
 
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