Before Martha Kinney's book, "The Fall of Heartless Horse," was published, the poet found employment at a series of odd jobs.
"I was an administrative assistant, I worked in a bookstore, I shoveled manure, I did all kinds of stuff," she said.
Kinney, who read in Robert Bell Building Thursday night said she got her break while getting her M.F.A. at Bennington College.
"The publisher was a friend of my professor," Kinney said. "It was a total fluke thing, I mean that sort of thing almost never happens. It was just a good fit I guess."
Her publishing house, akashic books, tends to take more chances than most others, Kinney said.
"Things are becoming more corporate with projected sales," Kinney said. "akashic does more experimental and political works."
Kinney said "The Fall of Hearltess Horse" is one of those experimental pieces.
The book is a family drama in which the main character, Heartless Horse, fights with his sons Ambiscule and Tadiscule over a ham.
"It's one of those things you have to read it to understand," Kinney said.
The subject matter isn't the only experimental element in "The Fall of Heartless Horse"; the storytelling is also unconventional. The book is written in productive verse, a poetic style made popular by authors such as Charles Olson, Kinney said.
Kinney said that, unlike many modern poets, she pays close attention to line breaks in her work.
"People were just breaking line willy-nilly," Kinney said. "I wanted each page to be like a painting where each line can stand on its own. "
Kinney said the fact that "The Fall of Heartless Horse" was written in rhymes, sets the piece apart from most other contemporary poetic works.
"There isn't a lot of permission to rhyme these days," Kinney said. "So it's kind of rebellious because it's so over the top."
Kinney said she has always been fond of rhyming poetry.
"I love the sounds," she said. "Original poetry rhymes quite a bit, it was a way to remember things."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
