Me Reading Stuff

The Greatest Speaking/Reading Voice in The World is that of Evan Dalton Smith. And today, I have the honor of reading you two of his poems. Evan's first book LOOKING FOR ANDY GRIFFITH will be out in 2016, and he can be found on twitter at @evandaltonsmith. "When I wake I fret, strut, destroy." With love, Robyn the Voyeur

Back on the rough stuff (coffee), I come at you this morning burning. Anne Carson, one of the great loves of my life, is the reason I'm reading you Ingeborg Bachmann today. These three poems are vigorous and clear, and I hope their strength will stun/stir/stimulate you the way they do me. I lose my screams, Robyn

The ending of this one unravels facets of sapiosexuality, something I'm both close to & agonized by. Please buy "Danger and Beauty", the book from which this sturdy poem came. Jessica Hagedorn, I love you. This poem throbs.

When one thinks of Las Vegas, one immediately thinks of Carson McCullers, am I right? Please enjoy a beautiful passage from The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, as recommended to me by the incomparable artist Jesse Wiedel. I love you guys. Truly, Robyn

With many thanks to all who entered, we have our winners! I wish I could have chosen all of you, but the contest winners are "Em" and "David Drury"! Congratulations to them both. I hope you enjoy my readings of these two magnificent entries. And while I did not do either of them justice, I had a goddamn BLAST with these pieces. Em's complex rendition of Donald Barthelme's "Concerning the Bodyguard" was truly mind-blowing. And David's tender understanding of Channing Tatum's inner difficulties was both touching and arousing. The words "chiseled confusion" sum it up nicely.Em has nothing to plug because she remains a mystery. David can be found on twitter @DavDrury (highly recommend following him) & also at @jeffbreakfast. Also, listen to Tennis Pro! You won't regret it!

Today, I finally read the master Walt Whitman. I guess I didn't read him to you yet because it seemed so obvious? I decided to read part 1 & 2 of Song of Myself in case there are any newcomers to Whitman. This is a great place to start. We'll do some deep cuts at a later date. IMPORTANT! DEADLINE for the CHANNING TATUM erotic poetry contest is tonight, midnight Pacific Time. I'll announce the winner on Thursday!

I was full with medium-level energy as I recorded this on my balcony for you this morning. Here is just one of the fantastic lines you'll get to hear today if you listen to this episode: "I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed & that necessary." I decided to make this a Margaret Atwood week. Today is her poetry. Please enjoy. Please buy any of her many books. Wishing you all well today, as always. XO, Robyn

In order to make sure everyone remembers they have to enter the contest by the end of the day, Monday, August 31st, I'm reading you one of my favorite entries so far! Anna Reynolds Wallis imagines Channing Tatum loving her for all she is: greasy bangs (I relate), dirty laundry, reading short stories, and driving her base model Kia. This poem made me laugh so hard! Thanks to Anna for sharing. Don't forget guys, if you win, you get a drawing by yours truly AND a care package full of all sorts of fun stuff. So ENTER! It's FUN! And I love you. Royalty free, hip hop, dark, Robyn

There's been a lot of poetry being flung around ME READING STUFF these days, so today I switch it up a bit. I read you a short story by Margaret Atwood that is as devastating as it is hilarious. It's an important one. It's from her 1983 book, "Murder in the Dark" & was published again in 1992 in "Good Bones." You should go buy one of those. Here's to authentic endings,Robyn p.s. only 1 week left in the Channing Tatum erotic poetry contest!

My friend, artist & musician, Anthony Record, recommended I read you some Theodore Roethke. How could I not? Roethke is one of the best. So is Anthony! And LOOK AT THAT TITLE. "Elegy for Jane (My Student, Thrown by a Horse)"...jesus. That's a title. This poem destroys me. Too bad I don't know how to pronounce Roethke's name. Sorry about that. While we're at it, sorry about a lot of things. I'm cloudy and consumed and not on my "A" game right now. Something about this morning also compelled me to share with you my favorite art & literature journal, Nat. Brut! Please go check their website out ASAP. You won't regret it. Neither father nor lover,Robyn

Well, well, look who's back? I'm finally reading a little Gertrude Stein for you. I may have chosen the cowardly route by picking pieces that aren't next-to-impossible to get one's tongue around, and for that I am sorry. If you'll stay tuned, I assure you I will soon attempt some of her more strenuous verse. And someone asked me to explain my obsession with Kleenex, so I dig into that a bit. Lastly, may we never forget, "romance is everything." (as if one could),Robyn

This is what we do over here at ME READING STUFF occasionally. As the lights of the city dim, and the glorious people of the Land beg for provocation & sweet nothings, we turn that $50 mic on and we READ. We read about Channing Tatum learning about what incense is and living near a Whole Foods. We read about Channing Tatum understanding the difference between dead bird feathers and sex toys. And we also read a poem by the great Frank O'Hara. We do it all over here, and we do it for you. Are you breathing? I am, but barely.Sincerely,Robyn

Hafez, Persian poet from the 14th century, will blow your mind & help you to find a new lover. No doubt about that. Enjoy this selection of poems about parties, God giving you a full wet kiss, and about quittin' ya day job. In this episode, I tell you a story about an insane way I once quit a job of mine (in involves being a defiant barista & being killed off in a horror film.) I used to be a terrible liar. Change rooms in your mind for a day,Robynp.s. also mentioned: Eli Porter, Tenacious D, Bruce Hornsby and being nice.

You guys are the first people I spoke to today. Before even my beloved, Coffee. This morning, I remind you that the Channing Tatum erotic poetry contest is going strong. Please email your stimulating entries to mereadingstuff@icloud.com. The poem today is a quick shot to the heart, and it contains the most powerful and immaculate ending. I know you're going to love it. This is Donald Hall's "Affirmation." Stifling, Robyn O'Neil

I'm hesitant to expose myself the way I did in this episode, but what are you gonna do? Apparently when you're me, what you do is embarrass yourself. Why the hell not.Today, from a balcony in Beverly Hills, I perform some raps and songs I wrote in 2nd grade. And then I launch into the real meat of this episode. Siste Viator, a book of poems by Sarah Manguso was recommended to me by a well read listener, and I immediately fell in love with it. I'm positive you will as well. I also read you the Dave Eggers blurb from the back cover explaining why this is the perfect book of poems for those of us not so inclined to read poetry. I know that describes a few of you out there. I'm just sorry you have to hear me singing about my early-onset-jealously towards people with blue eyes first. Please stay,Robyn

Hearing Leonard Cohen read his "A Note To The Reader" in the documentary I'M YOUR MAN is about 6 billion times better than hearing me read it, but that didn't stop me from clumsily reading it through my early-morning-sinus coughs. I also read two Rilke poems that you'll enjoy if you have blood inside your body. From the Underground, with love,Robyn

Today is just highly erotic. It must be because I'm going to a RUSH concert tonight. Geddy Lee is the picture of SEX, am I right? Today, I read a beautiful short poem by Emily Moore. She is a poet, musician, and a high school english teacher. I'm thrilled to have been introduced to her work. And as your little appetizer, I read my first Channing Tatum erotic poetry entry, and in it, we learn that Channing Tatum has fallen in love with Jimmy Fallon. Listen to the e.e. cummings episode to find out more about the contest I'm conducting through August. RIP Cecil the Lion. I'm sorry that humans are wretched. Love, Robyn

Along with reading e.e. cummings, today I challenge you to write your own poem. But here's the premise. You are Channing Tatum. And this is your secret erotic poetry. Email your finished work to oneilassistant@gmail.com. Winner receives a special drawing made by me! All my love, Channing Tatum

Today I sit on some bathroom floor water and read to you powerful poems by Heather Christle. She's alive right now. And so are you apparently. All of this is a good thing. These poems brought up cherished memories of reading François Rabelais and listening to Nina Nastasia. Let me know what they do for you. I eat stars, Robyn

Today was filled with technical glitches, gin-soaked women, and me accidentally stumbling into a replica of Buffalo Bill's lair. Only this one had a crying baby in a playpen, making it that much more fun. With all the excitement, I almost didn't get around to reading you "Blue Song" by Tennessee Williams. But look at me, I did it. And what a poem it is. I am tired too, Mr. Williams,Robyn