Winner of the 2019 Blue Light Book AwardDavid Hurlin is a new and distinctive voice in modern poetry. While he follows the contemporary norm of using free verse almost exclusively, he has a way sometimes suggesting quatrains or stanzas of other equal lengths to give the illusion of form. He uses dialogue patterns similarly and invokes haiku in its original line capacity. These nods to form are all the more surprising because his material is consistently (if that is possible) anarchic and apocalyptic. Hurlin lives in contradictory images. This is soaring poetry of mixed impossibilities. The image shifts are often dizzying as the reader is rushed from 'fetus' to 'stalactite.' A sublime celebration of Impressionistic art leaves the persona with 'chicken-turd-whitewashed florescence'--'typical absurdism . . . guaranteed to alienate.' A 'stampede through the Zodiac' enters you 'like floodwater'; 'blinding white underpants' are 'like a stained glass dove on the sun.' ....This book is a rainstorm of imagery, thought-provoking yet open-ended.David Hurlin is a professional drummer and percussionist. Drummer for Apocalypso Tantric Noise Choir, Soulmath, Elizabeth Moen, Annalibera, and most recently with The Mike Dillon Band, he has toured all over the country and is in high demand, both as a performer and session drummer. He is working on drum performances and collaborations which lean more toward sound art/sculpture and performance art.David received his BFA in photography and tabla (Hindustani classical music tradition) from Maharishi University, including seven months abroad in India. His photography took him around the United States photographing his favorite poets - James Tate, Charles Wright, Kim Addonizio, and Cole Swenson, to name a few - which deeply informed his reading and writing of poetry. He took graduate poetry workshops in support of his degree and was involved for a decade with the Monday Night Poets led by his mentor, Diane Frank.David lives in Fairfield, Iowa with his wife Emily, his son Dil, dog Mochi, cat Monarch, African Leopard tortoise Tortellini, 15 chickens, and 3 ducks.
