If you want to know anything about Atlantic Canadian Poetry, it seems you
need to dig a LOT deeper than Wikipedia. RM Vaughan, giving him a search
results in a dismal paragraph that randomly ends in “he is openly gay”. Thank
goodness both has a website and frequently checks and replies to his emails.
RM Vaughan is a Canadian Poet who is from St. John New Brunswick. He was
born in the year 1965. He has his Masters of Arts in English at Univeristy of
New Brunswick. He now lives and works in Toronto Ontario, he has written many
poetry books and chapbooks of his own such as A Selection of Dazzling Scarves and 96 Tears (In My jeans). He has also been included in many
anthologies both nationally and internationally. He has been nominated for the
National Magazine Award, the William Kilbourne Award, and the ReLit Award (as
the author bio of his new book Compared
to Hitler: Selected Essays says: always the bridesmaid).
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| RM Vaughan |
Now I was provided with the essay “Reuse and Recycle: Finding Poetry in
Canada” by Shane Rhodes. This Essay is a description of found poetry and some
poets within Canada who practice the art of found poetry. When I first read RM
Vaughan’s work I was wondering how in heck I would use this essay as a way to
look at one of his poems because his poetry does not seem to be the idea of
found poetry that many of us carry; however, this changed when I reread the
essay and stumbled upon this quote”
“[F]ound poetry should probably be seen more as a technique with varying
levels of application than a poetic sub-genre.”
I nodded in
agreement to this stack of paper before me. Of course! Found poetry isn’t
really a genre in and of itself, and it can be seen in many different angles. I
also connected this with a quote from Louis Dudek that was included in the
essay:
“[S]ignificance appears inherent
in the object.”
So when I
found 96 Tears (In My Jeans) I
understood what they meant. Found Poetry doesn’t have a specific form; it is
not only newspaper and a Sharpie. 96
Tears (In My Jeans) is found in a chapbook by the same name from Broken Jaw
press. The entire poem is 96 observations, and the memories attached to those
observations, that Vaughan has about this old pair of jeans that are falling
apart. To date this poem, it was copy written in 1997.
1
just over the kneecap, left side,
sucking cock on
the floor at the Barracks.
2
at the point where the zipper meets
the waist
button, digging at myself, I guess.
3
inseam, lower left nut pouch, from
sitting with
my legs open all summer on porch steps
and
park benches.
4
frayed pocket hem, lower right end,
provocative
standing and ceaseless rucking around
for
change.
5
worn thin under the buttom cup of the
right ass
cheek, getting spanked by an older guy
in some
highrise on Carleton.
6
cuff on left leg, caught in a bike
chain, no sexual
overtones.
This poem is
full of good laughs, great imagery, and heartfelt moments. Vaughan paints a
picture of his life at the time beautifully, thanks to the holes in his jeans.
He has found poetry in his jeans, which means that you can find poetry
anywhere.
So, go on! Go find your poetry.
You will probably find it where you least expect it, after all it's more than words.
