Zen Over Zero, 2008 – foto Smith

Zen over Zero

Dog week later in mourning kitchen pouring
Coffee into my veins with a dull cup
A daze of morals and Moses
Whines and Rosicrucians
It’s raining cats and gods
And I am a fine unman

– Smith, 1974

My first book of poetry that Lady published in 2008 was titled after this poem.

Zen Over Zero, Steven B. Smith, Selected Poems 1964 – 2008
69 poems & 22 collages spanning 44 years, $12 + shipping, 6″ x 9″, 84 pages

To order: lulu.com/shop/steven-smith/zen-over-zero/paperback/product-3765106.html

“Smith, in poetry’s whorehouse of many rooms, you belong in the philosophical-scientific wing with us.” – Jim Lang

“Let’s face it Smith, if the song ‘My Way’ were written about your life, it would be lyrics by William S. Burroughs & music by Laurie Anderson, as performed by The Velvet Underground. The 45-RPM vinyl would have been a blue corrosion color rather than black, with Voodoo Lounge as the cover and ‘Voodoo Child’ as side B. And THAT my friend would be one highly collectible single.” – Steve Reynolds

Here’s the first poem in the book, so you’ve only 67 poems and 21 collages to go.

Grasshopper’s Tale

My life’s dog food for do gooders
Hot dodgers dogging God’s zone
Fur sure of itself
Per path and position
Point portion pursued

We who rise in heat from dream
Lick recollection loose
From cold fire’s template
Futility’s fog
We bleed in abandon
Dance dawn’s dapple light

— Smith, 1989

Zen Over Zero, pp 6-7 – foto Smith