Put on your bravest face. Break out that Cheshire grin. Like Voltaire wrote in Candide, everything works out for the best. No matter what. Always.
Or something like that, right?
What Comes Down Must Rise Again originally appeared in Dissident Voice last year. But since I didn’t have this blog at the time, I’m giving myself a free pass to post it right now. That’s called liberty, baby. Go and get you some. Sovereignty is calling. Answer with a fire.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
Two of my poems have been published today at Tuck Magazine. Rhythm and Fallen are both excerpts from the project I’ve been hammering away at like a man possessed over the past three months. I’ve written over 600 pages of poetry during that time, and 93 pieces have been published at various venues so far. I’ve put together five chapbooks out of the material, one of which has been accepted by Dink Press, and another of which is in the early stages of negotiation with a different publisher.
Rhythm was actually one of the first pieces I wrote back in November when I was initially inspired by a documentary on Charles Bukowski that I happened upon. From that moment, I spent the next month devouring everything on YouTube about the man I could find – interviews, live readings, documentaries. Jesus, I must have spent around 30 hours watching and rewatching his surly disposition in action. If I had to crystallize my response to his style and methodology, I’d say it all sums up to this – Brutal honesty down to the marrow of the bones. Say what you damn well mean. That’s what I’ve tried to work on primarily, but, hell, I still love to dance with abstractions now and again.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
My poem Giving in to the Beast was published this morning at Record.
This piece is basically a reflection on social media and a reaction to my own decision recently to dive into the murky waters of the abyss after having avoided the scene like a plague for the past decade.
How many people have thought they could dance with the devil and come away unscathed? How many accomplished the feat? How many wound up sucking Satan’s cock? Well, I’ve always been pretty high on the idea of playing long odds…so on with the show…I’m the dark horse in this race but I’ve got a fifth ace up my sleeve…at least that’s what I keep telling myself in order to rationalize this course of action that’s been taken.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
My poem The Ways of the Flesh was published at 1947 Journal today. This is the first time I’ve associated with this site – many thanks to the editors.
I remember writing this poem in early January of last year with a pencil on a napkin (you use what’s available, right?) as I was driving to the hospital to pick up a prescription of oxycodone cough syrup for my Father. I then drove all around the city trying to find a pharmacy that had the right supplies and could fill the thing. Unfortunately, the meds just made Dad feel worse during that final month before he passed. But they sure as hell helped keep me in a state where I could handle the situation. I love you, Dad. I miss you.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
Daydreaming Dystopia is a wild, hallucinatory, psychedelic, meandering screed that courses through the psyche, dives down rabbit holes, leaps to heavenly heights, sits at the right hand of God’s throne, crashes back to the fiery abyss, digs into the core, feasts on the marrow of bones, takes a sword of truth to the guts of lies, dances upon the grave of decadence and desolation, and sows seeds of chaos that will be reaped in a future season of order.
This essay was written last spring as part of my book, Zero-Point Graduation. The excerpt appeared in Dissident Voice last September. Since nothing new has been published so far today, I thought I’d dig into the archives and throw something strange back out into the world.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
Issue 3 of Crab Fat Magazine has been released. My poem A Lonely, Lonely Vista begins on page 45. One of my favorite pieces from the frenzy I’ve been on the past three months. A war waged between God and the Devil within the soul. Angelic Consciousness balanced with Animal Nature. Learning how to play the game in this temporal world.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
My weekly poem at Dissident Voice went up yesterday. Places & Names falls more under the category of lyrics. I remember writing this piece about a year ago during my daily walk up to the park, through the woods, over the hill, across the river, all that –
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
My short poem Inheriting the Earth went up at Social Justice Poetry this morning.
Daily Bread:
I will work for food.
I will work instead of food.
I will work in spite of food.
I will work because it is my food.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
My short poem Health and Happiness from 2012 went up today at The Poet Community. That’s basically all there is to it.
Selah,
Scott Thomas Outlar
