Welcome to "The Right Amount of Close," which contains all of the poems that John S. Hall wrote in February of 2024. I asked him how he feels about the month's output.

"I think these poems are slightly better than January's, and I thought January was pretty good. I am still in a bit of pain from last month's breakup, but not too much pain, and it has been about seven weeks now, and I'm tentatively trying to find someone again. I am optimistic, despite a fairly abysmal record these past ten years or so. I am becoming a better person and have been regaining my confidence."

John did, in fact, seem more sure of himself than he did when I spoke with him last month. I asked him why he believed he had been getting more confident. He told me, "The shows have helped. I've done a number of readings this month, and a show with Dogbowl (guitarist, composer, and co-founder of King Missile (Dog Fly Religion), and they have gone over well. Many of the poems in this new book have been performed in front of audiences."

"It is great to be able to write something in the morning, and then perform it in the evening," John continued. "I've done that several times this month, including at open readings. I am so grateful to people like Joe Bendik, who has been running an open mic for months, and Jennifer Juneau, who has had an open reading for a few years now. These are not just incentives to get out of the house: I also tend to write better if I know I might be reading what I'm working on in the next day or two. It's also great to hear other poets and songwriters and performers. They can be inspiring, especially if they're really good, or really mediocre."

I asked him to explain how mediocre poets are inspiring, and John answered, "I get frustrated for them, and I think to myself what I would do differently. Almost every poet I hear has some great ideas, and usually they put together words well. But sometimes they go on too long. Sometimes they don't go as far as I would go-like they are afraid of the transgressive implications of their ideas. Sometimes they seem to lack passion, although I suspect they don't actually lack passion. Again, it seems as though they lack the courage to express their passion with passion. They hold back. And the more they hold back, the more I want to bust loose."

John certainly busts loose in this collection, especially in Poem No. 275 ("She Wanted to Hold His Cock in Her Hand"), Poem No. 278 ("Severance"), and Poem No. 295 ("You, With Your"). "Toward the end of the month, I tend to go for it. Sometimes in the beginning of the month, too. Like Poem No. 190 ("Mary's Little Lamb"), which I wrote on the 4th, and Poem No. 208 ("Like the Back"), which I wrote on the 7th. And then there are those ones about the pigeon who gets the guy to bet his dick. Pretty silly, but also fucked up. It's been a good month."

Indeed it has. But I'm looking forward to March.

John S. Hall
February 29, 2024