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Burn the Mission Down

It’s difficult getting through life this ignorant. Seriously, I’m not even joking.If you want to be humbled by the world and all the knowledge and conflicting nuances it contains, go mad as a hatter like me, and open an indie bookstore in a small, predominantly conservative town where no one knows you. Then, as part of your mission statement, try to make the shop sustainable by filling it mostly with literary fiction, topics that matter, and small press titles that nearly no one has heard of.To double down on the insanity, hang a banner outside that encourages people to READ BANNED BOOKS. And then post on social media about the letter you received from the property manager to remove the banner because it violates a sign ordinance. Summon the town’s online community for support and watch a virtual pileup occur. Be criticized for being too political and “woke” for what appears to be half of the mainstream public.Watch as foot traffic slows to a snail’s pace and your dream of enlightening your fellow man and quietly retiring in the desert dissipates into thin air.OK, it’s not that bad. Our bookshop has garnered a fair share of glowing reviews from the vocal liberal minority on our Google Business page . . . but my week gets worse.If you want to test the limits of your intestinal fortitude, hold a poetry reading event without properly advertising it. Then watch as only a handful of people show up. Enjoy the intimate gathering, read a few poems, snap a few photos, and post about it on Facebook.That doesn’t sound too bad. Only I told you I was a dotard, right?In a last-ditch effort to promote the event, I had recklessly called it a Poetry Pow Wow, not realizing I would offend a member of Yavapai Nation, one of the Indigenous tribes that lives adjacent to my community. Cultural appropriation, folks. It’s a thing, a serious and sobering thing—and I should have known better, but in my haste and blind zeal, I’m ashamed to say I thought nothing of it. As I have made clear, it’s difficult getting through life this ignorant.Thankfully, my ignorance in this matter was forgiven. The gracious woman who both attended the bookstore poetry event and then politely admonished me later for being a dolt, has invited me to attend a real Pow Wow next month—the 42nd Orme Dam Victory Days Pow Wow, Nov. 18-19, in Fort McDowell, Arizona.Meanwhile, Atticus Books & Music will be hosting its second Poetry Gathering on October 27, beginning at 5 p.m. While I’m not sure if it’s appropriate (because I am not schooled in these matters), I plan to read at least one poem by Joy Harjo, an internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee Creek Nation and U.S. Poet Laureate in 2019.In addition, I plan to recognize the efforts of poet Justin Hamm, who recently launched a Poet Baseball Card series, which includes Atticus Review Poetry Editor Michael Meyerhofer, among many others. The idea is truly innovative—and makes me admire his indie lit citizenship. It’s the kind of fire and ingenuity that had attracted me to indie publishing in the first place.  Dan CafaroPublisher & FounderAtticus Books & Music

THIS WEEK AT ATTICUS

NEW FROM THE ATTIC

THE VIEW FROM MAINE \\ OCTOBER

by Barbara Riddle 

"My local farmer' market ended on September 16, so I was able to have a busman’s holiday and attend the huge statewide Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Fair."

READ ON

BOOK REVIEW 

Les Murray's CONTINUOUS CREATION: LAST POEMS

reviewed by Will Carpenter

"Murray was perhaps most recognizable in his writing when his poems blew an object or situation up to such a size that it could contain all else."

READ ON

ISSUE FIVE SPOTLIGHT

LANDLADYby Jessica Cuello

READ ON

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