Description
"'Only my contradictions hold me upright,' claims one of the poems in
this ferociously lucid and often funny new volume by M.F. McAuliffe. On
the one hand it batters us with Lear-like bleak assertions which it goes
on to illustrate, most impressively, in the series of poems retelling
the Orpheus myth. On the other hand, the very rhythm, almost reassuring,
of other aphoristic conclusions suggests an admiration, despite
everything, for the world it so passionately curses and condemns."
— Luisa Valenzuela, author, Strange Things Happen Here, The Lizard's Tail, Black Novel (With Argentines), and Deathcats
"The architecture of space in this book is beautiful. There is thirst,
desire, the coy and bloodlust, the late summer passing and the tired
winter morning."
— Aimie Zimmerman, author, Kelley Point, poetry editor, Drunk in a Mindinght Choir (online)
"M.F. McAuliffe's poems have the harsh bitterness of falling leaves
necessary to ensure yet another spring. I can taste them across the
breadth of my tongue."
— Casey Bush, senior editor, Bear Deluxe Magazine, author, Cannonball Buttcrack, Not Afraid Of Freud
"These poems turn me inside out. They are close and closer and wound beautifully."
— Amy Temple Harper, author, Cramped Uptown
"Her approaches range from transcendence to judicious exactitude. The business is serious and the stakes are high. She lifts
us higher by her clarity and craft. She cuts to the chase."
— Douglas Spangle, author, A White Concrete Day
"If you're ready for something compellingly different, open this book."
— Andrea Hollander, author, Landscape with Female Figure, New and Selected Poems, 1982 - 2012
About the Author
M. F. McAuliffe has worked as a house-cleaner, hotel-cleaner, political pollster, teacher and librarian.
She is co-author of the poetry collection Fighting Monsters and the limited-edition artist's book, Golems Waiting Redux, which is held in the book collection at MOMA, New York. In 2000 her long poem "Orpheus" became the libretto for Orpheus, An Australian Tragedy, performed at La Mama Courthouse Theatre, Carlton. The text of "Crucifix I" appeared in the Yoko Ono curated installation "Arising" in the Reykjavik Art Museum (Oct. 2016-Feb. 2017).
In 2002 she co-founded the Portland-based, multilingual magazine Gobshite Quarterly, and in 2008 co-founded Repbrobate / GobQ Books.