Charly Fasano’s new book of poetry entrances

book-cover-next-analog-broadcastI’ve been a big fan of Charly “the city mouse” Fasano ever since he sent me a copy of his Fast Geek Reader a couple years ago. That compendium of punk rockers and poets was actually the impetus for the “Rock of Pages” column I did for the Pitch‘s Wayward Blog, which in turn became the foxus of this very blog. The material about which Fasano writes — drinking, concerts, life in general — resonates pretty strongly with me, and it’s always a pleasure to get new material from Fasano or Fast Geek Press.

His new chapbook, Next Analog Broadcast, is a tightly-focused compendium. The tiny, pocket-sized volume — due out in July from sunnyoutside — collects poems, that despite in some cases being as short as a few lines, manage to convey novels’ worth of story. My favorites, “Skinny Model” and “Doorman Math” are paired on facing pages, and combine to present a surprising perspective on female body image. The lines “Better than / more tan / skinny when she wants to be” have me coming back to them again and again, amazed at their simple efficacy.

It’s rare that I want to read poetry, much less do so repeatedly, but Fasano’s work has kept this slim work nearby ever since it came in the mail last week, and I’ve been picking it up and returning to my favorite pieces again and again, enjoying the wordplay involved. I almost feel sorry that folks have to wait a full two and a half months before it’s released. Trust me, though — it’s worth waiting for.