|
Harry Burrus, Poet/Publisher
Burrus lives with his wife, Megan, at 1266 Fountain View, Houston, Texas 77057-2204.
His telephone number is (713) 784-2802; his e.mail address, harryburrus@juno.com
He was born in Denver, reared in St. Louis. Moved to Houston in June 1977. He is six feet one and weighs 175 pounds. His parents
were university professors. His father was the first Pro Football player with a PHD. He himself holds advanced degrees in Film, Dramatic Arts, and Poetry--and is active as a collagist, photographer, screenwriter and filmmaker as well as a poet and the publisher of O!!Zone, which he describes as "a
modest literary-art zine."
His poetry books include: I Do Not Sleep With Strangers, Confessions of a Tennis Pro;
Bouquet; A Game of Rules; Without Feathers; For Deposit Only; the Jaguar
Porfolio; and Cartouche. He has also co-edited with Peter Gravis of Black Tie Press,
American Poetry Confronts the 1990's.
Burrus's poetry, photographs, and collages have appeared in various publications and
exhibitions in the US and abroad.
Says Burrus about making a living, "I gain dinero via photography, scripts, workshops, and various other artistic
pursuits (and years ago as a tennis pro)."
About religion and politics/nationalism (and money), he finds that "most people
cannot discuss without harboring ill-feeling and/or distrust for those who
possess views different from their own. Hence, I tend not to engage in these
areas unless it is with those capable of out of body experiences. "
He has difficulty specifically determining what poets and critics and other influences have been important to him. "The aggregation is subtle and ongoing. Travel, for sure, is a primary player. On the goat path and with the
aroma of donkey dung filling the surrounding air, I witness and pick up
juxtaposition, impact, resonance, and cultural unravelings. On these
excursions I shoot a lot of film, make journal entries, and ambient sound
recordings and always use the material. I never know how or when or in what
form the work will appear, but it eventually does pop up somewhere, either in
poems, art of some kind like a collage, or, perhaps, a story emerges.
"I am drawn to openness, curiosity, and a willingness to take chances. I like
strong personalities. I favor high energy and experimentation. The seduction
has been more from artists and filmmakers, rather than poets, although a few
poets have landed a stroke or two. A few personalities that quickly come to
mind are: Ernst, Magritte, Man Ray, Buñuel, Resnais, Cartier-Bresson,
Schwitters, Godard, Bergman, Newton, Rausenberg, Matta, Isidore Ducasse,
Pessoa, Prevert, Bowles, Wenders, and Gysin.
"I tend to appreciate those engaged in multiple activities and skilled in
different pursuits. Peter Beard and Bruce Chatwin come to mind. Journeymen.
I enjoy Henry Miller’s writing about watercolors more than his novels. I
enjoy the independence of his watercolors.
"I make extractions from movements (Dada, Surrealism, The Beats, etc.), pulling
on the dynamism or a particular tack -- something I notice that I might employ
in my work. I may utilize or value aspects of the thinking that goes into a
work more than the work itself. Burroughs’ and Kerouac’s and Lawrence’s
ideas, for example. I also value their dedication.
"Previously I read a lot of poetry and poetry publications, but I became
disenchanted with the likes of APR and Poetry - too much sameness. Even
newcomers and alternative journals, which broke away from the writing school
content and were, at first, exciting and fresh, even they slowly lost their
zest and started wearing that familiar uniform. There is, however, still
energy in various zines and micro-presses, so, choice is out there. One must
forage for the interesting - which is the same with people.
"My engagement with international visual poets, mail artists, and photographers
provides visual stimulation, plus insights into other cultures. Myriad
personalities have opened to me and my exchange with them I eagerly maintain.
I find correspondence or working on a collage or making a photograph more
intriguing than being a spectator of some sporting event.
Burrus cites three critics "who write well about their topics": Walter Pater, John Simon, and
Marvin Bell.
The last full collection of poetry Burrus has read (as of 15 November 1997 was Bukowski's Betting on the Muse; last
non-poetry book: Breaking the Maya Code, by Michael Coe.
Click here to see "Blue Mirror," a poem from Burrus's A Game of Rules
. .
|