Halloween and Dia de los Muertos! Part One, Kevin Eberhardt!

 

It's the end of October, and NightBallet Press is pleased to announce the publication of TWO fantastic poetry collections by TWO fantastic poets,
Kevin Eberhardt and Alan Catlin! 
This is Part One of two posts; stay tuned for Part Two: Alan Catlin next weekend!

Part One:  Kevin Eberhardt: Before the Puppets Could Sing

 

Before the Puppets Could Sing by northeast Ohio poet and artist Kevin Eberhardt is a dark fantasy "upon the scrimshawed sea" to lands where "pillar shaped clouds/hold up the sky," where "there's a darkness in the water" and "skeletons dance/on splintering ropes."

This is the editor's favorite poem in the book:

Holy Storms

A congregation of
Clouds gather for
Prayer the sermon
Same as yesterday
& the one before of
Apocalyptic damage
To an unexpected
Town got nothin' to
Do with sin or the
Breaking of any
Commandment
W/out warning & un
Prepared for that
Which they were
About to receive
A renegade cold
Front moves in
Spouting a torrent
Of tornadoes in
A schizophrenic
Language only
Angels under
Stand / repent
For the wrath of
God is upon us
Halleluiah
Amen

Before the Puppets Could Sing contains 28 pages of 21 poems and a Kevin Eberhardt illustration, "'Tis the Season."  The cover is a stark white textured cardstock with an Eberhardt art piece, "The Gate" in red and black. The cardstock insert is thick and double-sided, black and red. The text is printed on brilliant white paper. While the poems are often brief, they contain an astonishing array of wordplay and vivid imagery. 

Kevin Eberhardt, in recent years, has expressed himself in found/primitive/folk art. His striking and distinctive art has appeared on numerous NightBallet Press covers, and has been featured at JoAnn DePolo Studios and Gallery in North Olmsted, Ohio, and at www.agentofchaos.com.  Eberhardt's poetry has appeared in various publications, including ArtCrimes, The City Poetry, Deep Cleveland Junkmail Oracle, and the Fuck Poetry anthology (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2011).  He is the author of two previous chapbooks, Transitory Innocence (NBP, 2013), and Burnin' Shadows (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2011).  He also published a collaborative book of poems and photos, Rockin' at the Ace Cafe, with U.K. photographer Richard Byerley.  Learn more at www.octoberconspiracy.blogspot.com.

Before the Puppets Could Sing is only $5 plus $3 shipping.  To purchase a copy, simply click on the PayPal button (you don't have to have a PayPal account to use it).

Out-of-country purchasers, please contact the press at nightballetpress@gmail.com for information on shipping costs.