Raleigh poet Eric Amling releases his newest book on his own imprint, Human Hair & Co. Press. Amling plans to reinvent the poetry reading, using a large wooden speech bubble projecting the poems. This encourages more audience participation. “Split Level Igloo” is now available through his website, but limited to 250 copies. For a mere $7, you can enjoy this environmentally-friendly collection of poems printed with soy ink on recycled paper, manufactured at Barefoot Press in Raleigh.
This is Amlings’ third collection of poems. “Split Level Igloo” comes at a time of a resurgence of interest in limited edition self-published literature. Some say that the growing expense of new large press poetry creates a loss of readership. This book focuses on intimate ownership of the poems, challenging acceptance of an underachieving environment and the limbo of financial prosperity for the individual. Amling uses surreal imagery with a hack private eye, lax gold miners, a washed up mathematician and forward thinking jingle writers to name a few characters down on their luck.
Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth writes for Arthur magazine. Speaking of Amling’s work: “His writing is great. Long-lined poems are filled with gorgeous surrealist imagery, bleeding heart galore and plenty of yucks. This would include perhaps the best penis nickname I’ve yet had the pleasure to encounter—the Episcopal Hammer. Seek it for pleasure.”
But Amling’s work is not limited to the written word alone. He is also a collage artist, probably known more for this album cover to those not too familiar with his work.
Here’s an excerpt from “Billionths”:
I’m so happy with this pirogue, this healthy mustache.
It’s adventurism next to malnutrition in the rinse
of conceit; a t-bone steak constantly regenerating
on your plate until it becomes a sense of failure.
Amling has his own take on “Split Level Igloo”: “I think the poems are at least, accessible. I use humor and imagery as a Trojan horse, into the staple topic castles of love, money, environment, rainbows and whiffle ball fields. I recently met a woman who makes tie-dye cakes and we hit it off, finding the similarities in our work.”
Have a look at the book’s promotional film. “Split Level Igloo” is available right now.
Welcome to New Raleigh. We welcome your participation in the ongoing discussion. If you are new we invite you to register with our site. With registration you can upload a picture, message other users, and comment more easily. If you want to keep up with the site, subscribe to our RSS feed or get emailed every time we post.