WB Burkholder's review of Mice Verses Man

WB Burkholder from Troubadour21 magazine did a great review of my book recently. Thanks a lot Bill, I appreciate your words!

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As a contributing editor for Troubadour21, I have had the unique privilege of being able to read and comment on new works of poetry, art, music, and photography. I am constantly amazed at the well spring of talent that exists and continues to emerge on its pages.
One such talent that has come to light in recent months is that of R Jay Slais, author of Mice Verses Man. This collection of poetry is R Jay’s first undertaking and it comes to us in a finely crafted volume published by Big Table Publishing.
Within its forty pages we enter the world of a single father raising two teenage children, the mourning of lost moments, and lost loves. The reader finds themselves behind the eyes of this author and with him, they witness and re-experience the moments and cacophonic renderings of a single life lived, remembered, and conveyed through the voice of a seasoned, talented poet.
In some ways, the title of this volume is somewhat disarming; it does not prepare the reader for what they are about to experience within its pages. However the reader will not be disappointed.
From title cover to the back page the reader is given the gift of insight as well as reflection of one very talented poet. All too often, we tend to look past the greatest gifts that stand in front of us, those that become the most evident. Within the words of R Jay Slais and among the pages of Mice Verses Man these gifts abound in great numbers.
The voice of this poet sings the lamentations of typical man, the everyday man however, it comes to us in the form of a unique echo; one that resonates within us and only comes from the Poet, R Jay Slais. Yes there is the rendering of a man’s heartbreak, the conveyance of his tears upon the pages but also, the gift of hope and strength. This author has weathered these storms, and it is to the reader’s benefit, for what has come from his experiences has been conveyed to us in a superbly written collection of sights, sounds, all gifted to us through the passionate heartbeat of this poet.
Troubadour21 highly recommends Mice Verse Man and gives R Jay Slais and his first collection of poetry a T21 rating of five stars.
To obtain a copy of Mice Verses Man you can contact, www.bigtablepublishing.com or contact the author directly at Rjay61@comcast.net.
Mice Verses Man: ISBN 978-0-9842473-2-5 R Jay Slais

Lanie Shanzyra Rebancos Review of Mice Verses Man

Lanie Shanzyra Rebancos posted a review of Mice Verses Man yesterday of her blog. Thanks so much Lanie! I am very honored by the words you have wrote and glad you enjoyed my work.

Here is her review copy/pasted:

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Mice Verses Man
By R Jay Slais
Big Table Publishing Company

One Of A Kind.

Mice Verses Man by R Jay Slais is one of the best poetry chapbooks I’ve ever read. As a poet myself, I can see and feel the emotions set on every word Mr. Slais put into his poetry. He pictures every poem with vivid images that you can actually feel and touch the person on it. Every poem written has its own life, breathing its own beauty from one page to another.

Some of my favorite poems are Nice Guys Always Finish, Middle of the Night We Weep, Love Solstice and The Search. Somehow in these selected poems, I can relate. There were incidences in my life that I saw it all happened again when I read these poems. It made me sigh and wonder how I was able to cope up with those things. Then the next thing I know, I’m reading his chapbook all over again.

The words used on his poetry are like songs entwined with magic. Mr. Slais proved his talents and magical charisma on his first chapbook of poetry. It is a magical journey, digging deep into the person’s emotions. Getting Mice Verses Man poetry chapbook is one of the best things you can do in your life-no regrets.

Mice Verses Man Released Today

My first book of poetry Mice Verses Man was officially released by Big Table Publishing Company today. Smiles!

If you're interested in getting a copy (you know you want it) travel here and either buy one from Robin at BTP or hit the Paypal button and I will send you a personally signed copy.

Thanks for reading and hope to hear from some of you. Thanks!!

Smiles!
R Jay

One poem at fourpaperletters

Many thanks to the fourpaperletters magazine editor Laura Isaacman for including my poem A Two Star Night in their January 1st issue.

This poem is part of my forthcoming book Mice Verses Man

It's a great new magazine, check it out!

Smiles!

Frosted Glass at Boston Literary Magazine - Winter 2009/2010

I have one poem just published in the Winter 2009/2010 issue of Boston Literary Magazine. This was accepted a few months ago and since then, the editor Robin has also accepted my Mice Verses Man manuscript for publication from her Big Table Publishing Company due out any day now. Thanks and thanks Robin and your BLM staff.

Smiles!

We All "Knead"

Knead

Love hate they say as if we are baking Sylvia bread,
head in an oven to watch the yeast rise.
Witness the moment the skin begins to brown,

when the odor wafts upon the window draft
like a ghost walking about room to room.
We look but can not see,

smell but do not inhale because we know inside
hate festers like pan drippings on the heating element;
you can not touch without getting burned.

After all, one who hates you perfectly,
moils without end to slice the lines that define you,
might be the one who can accept

everything you are made of,
the hard crust, the delicate insides,
and the crumbs that linger longer.



first published in Clockwise Cat Jan 2009

Latest Poetry Happenings

It's been a little slow on the poetry front mostly because I was putting a lot of time into getting my Mice Verses Man book ms and the galley perfected with the publisher so I wasn't submitting a whole lot during that time plus I have a few submissions that have been out for a couple months.

Anyway, I did hear back with a poem acceptance from a new lit mag called fourpaperletters for their January 2010 issue. Many thanks to the editor Laura Issacman. Looking forward to being a part of your magazine!

I also heard from editor Lori A. May from The Ambassador Poetry Project. A fairly new literary magazine based near the Detroit metro area named after the Ambassador Bridge. She accepted two of my poems for their March 2010 Spring issue. Thank you Lori! I hope to meet you some day too at a reading or whatever.

Since my last update, I also received two sets of rejections.

The publisher of my forthcoming book, Robin Stratton, shared one of the review excerps meant for the back cover of Mice Verses Man with me today. It's is from Steve Meador who has three fine poetry books out, all of which I own by the way, and also is the editor of the literary mag Hanging Moss Journal.

Here's his review. thanks Steve!

“R Jay Slais braids nature with humor and face-slapping reality that allows the reader to feel like a longtime friend. He is adept with language, structure and planting seeds of emotion, and one cannot help but feel lifted by 'January and all its newness is coming.'”
Steve Meador - author of Throwing Percy from the Cherry Tree

Winter is setting in here in Michigan. No snow here yet, but brrrrrrrr it is cold.

Smiles!

Happy first Birthday Chloe

She's one today. We got her at eight weeks old back in February, a tiny little fluffball. Now she's a huge fluffball, 13 pounds worth of lover kitty. Sometimes she thinks she's a dog though, she has this little bark she does and she loves playing fetch with her little soccer ball. Happy birthday Chloe!

Open Mic Poetry Reading 21NOV09

Last night I attended an open mic poetry event sponsored by Troubadour 21 Magazine at The Beat Cafe in Warren Michigan. It was really crowed with about 50 people there.






Many came to see the featured poet Whitney Syphax Walker and she did a great job, brought down the house.










I read three of my poems early in the event including one from my forthcoming book Mice Verses Man.







It was fun seeing and listen to all my poetry buddies. You all did great work up there on stage.










William B. Burkholder - The MC of the event and also a staff memebr at Troubadour 21













Valencia 'Numi' Vanner













Dimonique Boyd













Crystal Reign Brock













Karma Sweetmain Williams - Co owner of The Sweet Epiphany in Detroit














Carla Dodd - The Troubadour 21 Poetry Editor













Candace Deekah Wyatt jammed a couple tunes for our listening pleasure















New friend Megan Collins who came in from Erie PA. She owns The Last Wordsmith Book Shoppe in Erie














and another new friend Dawn Shepler Shimp who came up from Ohio








I also had some great conversations with local Detroit poet Mark Durfee and I bought his latest book Stink - Poetry And Prose Of Detroit. Thanks Mark!

Thanks to Troubadour 21 for sponsoring the event and to The BEat Cafe for providing the venue.

Smiles!

Test Flight

Opening The Door


It was a tough delivery,
he was almost lost.
That first day,
he grips my thumb,
his hand no bigger
than a newborn bird.
I always let him
steady himself
during his flights.

His is different
from the others.
The other children
sometimes tease him
because his hands shake,
his nerves un-feathered.
As he grows, he learns
to master the use
of each hand
with equal strength.

Our hands are the same
size now. His hands
still shake a little,
if you watch very closely.
Someday, his hands
will stop shaking
and mine will begin to;
I know he will be there
to steady me.

Good news - My first book ms accepted by Big Table Publishing

Yay, now that I have signed on the dotted line and it is official, I would like announce that by year's end 2009, my first collection of poetry Mice Verses Man is to be published by Big Table Publishing Company Chapbook Series. BT Publishing is based in Massachusetts near Boston.

Eventually, it will be available at this link from the publisher or you can contact me directly at
RJay61 at comcast dot net
if you would like a signed copy.

Thanks a lot to the owner and Editor In Chief Robin Stratton for the acceptance and for being such a patient and knowledgable person to work with. The project is moving fast and it won't be long until it drops. It's going to be a 40 plus page chapbook, sort of a chap on steroids I guess, and it contains a lot of my best work including many previously unpublished pieces.

By the way, next door, I have started a new blog titled Mice Verses Man to help promote the book, print reviews, list readings or signings I will be doing in the future. Maybe I will see you here, or there, or there...thanks!!

On the cover of OCHO 27

Thanks again Didi for including my portrait on the cover and my poem "Obscure" on page 20/21.

Smiles!

Poetry here and there

Having fun writing, doing open mic readings, and submitting these days. Some successes, including acceptances at

The Smoking Poet, one in Zinta Aistars magazine, Winter 09 issue forthcoming. Thanks Zinta, you and your magazine rock!

I will have a poem in Hanging Moss Journal forthcoming soon. This is Steve Meador's great lit mag, Buy his books btw, all three are Good Reads!! you will not be disappointed.

Got one accepted for the forthcoming issue of Boston Literary Magazine. Great mag and my second time sharing there (Summer 2008 also). Robin Stratton and her staff do wonderful work there. THANKS!

One poem will be in Didi Menendez's OCHO 27 forthcoming soon, thanks Didi

Two poems accepted and published at Troubadour21, a Detroit local magazine just starting out but making a name around town. Great people. I met Carla, Carl, Karma, Bill, and Paquita at open mic readings recently. See you all again soon. Thanks!

Recently I had three poems that were published in the latest issue of Leaf Garden. a superb magazine, thanks so much!! See the link to their free PDF on the right hand side of this page or go there and buy a hard copy.

All this was balanced by 9 sets of rejections including my fifth from Beloit Poetry Journal, oh well, someday. :) The editor wrote me a note a said he loved reading my poem (not enough to publish it I guess but hey...lol)

Big news on the horizon.... shhh, it's a secret. (for now)
Smiles!!

American Poet Portraits by Didi Menendez

My portrait was rendered and posted on Didi Menendez's American Poet Portraits 2 website today. Thanks Didi, your art is more flattering than me in real life... smiles!

See it here: R Jay Slais portrait

Here's the link to her site. American Poet Portraits 2 Check out all her great work. For those whom may not know Didi, Didi Menendez is a Cuban-born American artist and author. She is also a publisher of several literary magazines including MiPOesias, OCHO, Oranges & Sardines, and Poets And Artists. Her publishing company is GOSS183.
Her latest book of poetry is WHEN I SAID GOODBYE released by BLAZEVOX.

Here's a snapshot but I hope you visit her site too.

Poetry Reading in Detroit

I finally got out last weekend and did a open mic poetry reading. This was my first one.

It was an event sponsored by Troubadour 21, a great new lit mag here in the Metro Detroit area. It was hosted by The Sweet Epiphany in Detroit. Proprietors Karma Qsaay and Jennifer Williams are providing the area a place to enjoy music, art, and poetry. They strive to educate and expose our youth to the arts in a positve evironment. Great people!

This was a two day event and I went on the second day. Poets that read on stage the second day included local poets Ber-Henda Williams, Brook Blander, Zach Ashley, William B. Burkholder, Carlton Smith, Matvey Troitsky, Karma Qsaay Williams, Jennifer Williams and myself. Diane Borsenik from Cleveland Ohio also came up to perform her poetry. Local artists Adam Klimec and Anthony Callis headlined the show with their their paintings plus other headliners included photography by Courtney McClenahan and wonderful hand-crafted jewelry by Christina Douglas.
I had a great time and stayed until after midnight, a long night but well worth it.

Thanks to The Sweet Epiphany for providing the venue and T21 for sponsoring the event.

Here's a couple photos of me reading there. Photos by Diane Borsenik. Thanks Dianne!

Poetry Happenings

During these trying times of late, been writing when I can and submitting here and there. Some good news to brighten my days, 3 poems accepted for an upcoming issue of Leaf Garden, 2 poems accepted at Breadcrumb Scabs for issue 16 in Apr 2010, and 1 acceptance at Hanging Moss Journal due in Oct 2009 superbly balanced by four rejections from some excellent magazines that all sent personal notes with the response.

Thanks to all the editors for their responses and for smiling my day. Peace and love!

TGIF!!

One poem in Oranges & Sardines

The Self Portrait Issue of Poets And Artists, the latest release from Didi Menendez and her creative magazine Oranges & Sardines is now live here: check it out!

The Self Portrait Issue - Poets And Artists

I am happy to have one of my poems titled "Happenstance" included (pg 43)
Thanks Didi!!!! It's a beautiful magazine with so many talented artists and poets featured in it. Lovely!!

If you would like the option of getting a hard copy, please bookmark this link. It should be available soon. I can't wait to get mine!!

https://www.createspace.com/Customer/EStore.do?id=3399083

Peace and love!!

Some photos from my N Mich road trips

It's been a while since I posted here. Been a busy summer, lots of hard work and some fun like my trips "up north". Click to enlarge the photos. Smiles to you all!!

Love Solstice

Since it has been a little over a year now since my friend Tom, the editor at Barnwood International Poetry Mag first published this poem, I thought this was a good time to re-post it and share it here too because damn... I am so right here inside what this poem is speaking to right now. :(


Love Solstice


After her smile fades
a bee sleeps in my mouth.
The sunset has no teeth.
Lips are frozen;
a window thick with frost,
all night, the cold finds lost needles.
Widower in the wind,
horny fleas construct their brothel
on the wing of a flightless dove.

Breathing is a fierce storm
when the sky is full
of wet eyelids,
the language of torn dead leaves,
like the scurry of mice
around the feet
of a cold weathered monument.
Her loss is a suffering
that will never be carved
on the subterranean stone.

In the absence of flowers,
a bewildered man,
even the fault line shake
of morning wake
does nothing but loosen
the frail balance of growth.
A single seed,
endosperm cap weakened
to permit radicle emergence,
drowns in a rush
of Spring rain,
never to root in soil;
the echo of sad voice
despoiled by time and tears.

Waving at my shadow
on concrete,
a gaunt gray man,
lacking contour waves back.
That lonely walking dove
one eyes the sun
seeking nothing but warmth,
a voice, a seed to split.
We are blinded,
unable to find the threshold,
her name,
only a memory on my mouth.

Winter

Febuary photos

Click to ENLARGE