Mantis 20 (Spring 2022)
Retrospective
Ben Doller
Hello
Insert every
where ‘con
tempt’ for ‘a
ttempt,’ -that
is, garage
door lurch,
steep heat
lost, teeth
can’t chip
the lung
ellipse once
the sentence
is begun:
it takes
just one
(word, blurt)
to detest
the gap
you say—
I mean
I say—
to hate
the way
it never
works. Well,
‘hate’ may
be too
strong a
word. More
like the disease
of speed
on black
ice. The
unease you
know will
kill you.
I mean
me. Hello
I say
though it
seems far
a way
a sort
of hell
gleams, fades.
and waits.
Originally printed in Mantis 11 (2013)
BEN DOLLER has taught in the MFA programs at George Mason University, Boise State, and West Virginia University and is vice-editor and designer for 1913 Press. The author of four books of poetry, and two collaborative books, his work has been published widely in journals and anthologies including New Republic, Volt, Fence, Boston Review, and Satellite Convulsions (Tin House). His writing, research, and teaching interests include genre intersections, experimental writing, the politics of form, performance and sound poetries, typography and graphic design, and small press publishing. He is an associate professor at the University of California, San Diego, and lives in North Park, San Diego.