Rae Armantrout

Rae Armantrout is a professor of writing and literature at the University of California, San Diego, and the author of several books of poetry, most recently Money Shot (2011) and Versed (2009), winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Denis Poroy

Nation Poetry

What Counts What Counts

First breath, best breath. I don’t mean anything by that. Shale over shale. I concentrate on acts to keep from repeating words in my head. I sit up and copy them in bed. “So, so gl…

Jul 13, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Return

Return Return

1 Better to collect miniature trolls beside toy bridges and arrange them on doilies. Best we commemorate old fears until our heads are full lest we trump up some flesh and blood de…

Dec 1, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

My Erasures

My Erasures My Erasures

My erasures were featured. * I collected debris to sell as crash art, crush porn. * “Say goodbye to Lonesome George,” the last Galapagos tortoise. * I was a pushover for the laws o…

Apr 7, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Holiday Holiday

The ad for the American moment   says, “Make today famous.”   (That little nobody!)   Bury her under the foundation.   Rome did.   Have her wear that seasonal   affective collapse get up.   Keep an eye- in-the-sky on it

Aug 29, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Treatment Treatment

The relationship between a handsome young broker and a lovely young curator is in trouble. Before they can marry, he must come to tolerate, then feel guarded affection for a good natured buffoon who populates dioramas with stuffed mouse couples in period dress, then for an assortment of others, some less likeable, who also take passionate interest in an activity that generates no profit

Sep 14, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Three Poems by Rae Armantrout Three Poems by Rae Armantrout

"Framing," "Soft Money," "Accounts"

Aug 29, 2011 / Audio / Rae Armantrout

Midst Midst

We're all saying the same thing now,   scolding the same shadow,   not in harmony, but in sync   or by turns.   Singing that bar about the flock taking off   "as if" it were one body—   as if this was one body—   and who could be listening?

Sep 15, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Answer Answer

a moment of stillness, demanding an answer. When does a moment end?      * Starbucks prayer, "Make morning good again."      * Leaf shadows on pavement: word meaning to slide carelessly, repeatedly, to absentmindedly caress.      * For I so loved the world that I set up my only son to be arrested.

Dec 17, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Simple Simple

for Aaron Korkegian

Mar 27, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Lengths Lengths

 1 Evening succeeds evening. Demons discourse on familiar topics.

May 24, 2007 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

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