Momentary Turbulence

Poetry. MOMENTARY TURBULENCE--a perfect name for this Brad Rose collection of prose poems. They take but a few moments to read and are filled with wondrous turbulence. Rose has an uncanny ability to write a sentence, fling it into space, and have it return in perfect harmony from its journey--matching up to the following sentence. These terrific stories leap from philosophy to stand-up, and add a little mystery and some shtick. But make no mistake about this description--this is the work of a pro who wields language liked a sculpture wields his hammer and chisel--chipping away at every unnecessary word. Bring a copy of this book for a hostess gift--it'll hold so much better than the wine you were considering.--Paul Beckman

The paragraphs in MOMENTARY TURBULENCE are perhaps the closest we will get to that razor edge where prose poem and story balance perfectly. They also highlight the many ways in which the works in verse here recall Pound's dictum that poetry must be as well written as the best prose. If it didn't have such a big Yankee heart, MOMENTARY TURBULENCE might also be the answer to the question of what a Robert Bolano raised north of the border would look like: blue collar pomo, searing, with a noir eye. But there is a twinkle in that sad smile, a delight in the beauty of a toxic sunset that comes from knowing just how long night will last.--Ron Silliman

The good folks in Brad Rose's MOMENTARY TURBULENCE live like we all do, alone alone or alone around other people. They know 'the emptiness of one thing is in the emptiness of all things. This is the shock of the world.' When one of them splits the skin of a prose poem to stick out his head, look right at me, and say, 'I warn you my friend, never turn off your eyes. The trees lie in wait. You never know when you're going to hear shots, ' I listen. You should, too. We're heading into some rough wind and this book will help us through.--Christopher Citro