Page 18

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Reviews

November, 1990

Decade Dance by Michael Lassell

by Essex Hemphill

The poetry that I deem powerful is that which is clear and concise, the images palatable and arresting. Such poetry does not distance itself from the audience and emit the often static and nearly rhythmless tones of "high art." Poetry which gives itself to life rather than to isolation and remoteness is usually created by brave poets. The poet's unflinching eye names the details of his experience; the truth he knows, like the specific notes in a music score that moves us to dance and cry, mourn and celebrate. We stand in awe, the beauty he clearly shows like a living thing

among us.

DECADE DANCE

Michael Lassell

These qualities are abundant in the poetry of Michael Lassell. His work raises a torch to life. His new collection, Decade Dance, is rich with lines and rhythms to remember. He meditates poignantly upon the personal, which is resolutely political. We journey with him through a decade of personal and communal gay life. We move from cruising bars to political rallies, from seductions to funerals, from desire to responsibility.

This is not a collection of poems the National Endowment for the Arts would

have funded in its present homophobic stance. Lassell responds to this knowledge in "Piss Jesse, or Silence = Death". Although this poem cleverly reads Jesse Helms and others of his ilk, of the overtly political pieces, "Piss Jesse" is perhaps the weakest, while other poems such as "Statues of Liberty" and "A Modest Proposal, Overtly Political" carry a more sophisticated expression of anger. While other poets might resort to rhetoric for political expression, Lassell infuses his politics with wit so that a bit of humor comes along with his biting

protest.

dramatic grief to be pandered by poets of lesser skill.

I am most attracted to the vulnerability displayed in these poems. These poems speak of a man who remembers much and has lost much. An indomitable spirit emerges from this work. Decade Dance is a collection the reader can return to often. Long

Homosexuality: A Practical

Guide to Counseling Lesbians, Gay Men, and Their Families by Helen B. McDonald and Audrey I. Steinhorn Continuum Publications, $17.95

The seven sections of Decade Dance move progressively from the gay disco nights of the seventies and early eighties ("Dancing Days"), to the more cautious attitude of the present ("How to Choose by Ed Santa Vicca Life"), wherein the poet instructs us to "Put off the decision for as long as you can... /Wait./Wait./Do not rush."

Perhaps the major problem with this book is that it tries to be too much to too Lassell is vulnerable and acutely sensimany. As a result, no one is likely to be tive, playing the language of his experi-satisfied. As an introduction (almost HOMOence with gentle repetitions and lingering 101) to the lifestyles, issues, and concerns tenderness. His lines are lean and spare, his of homosexuals, the book fails. language is precise and frank. The work gathered here is powerful without slamming itself into one's sensibility.

Some of my favorite poems in the collection include, "How to Watch Your Brother Die", "Desire", "The Future Cowards Built", and "How to Visit the Grave of a Friend". "Desire" called to mind C.S. Cavafy's "He Asked About the Quality". I do not suggest that Lassell is not an original voice. Quite the contrary, Lassell's poetic voice is surely his own, drawing as he does on disparate poetic influences and melding those influences into his own cadences.

There is much that is beautiful and sad in this collection. Lassell is one of the witnesses of the AIDS war, yet he speaks with the authority of one on the frontlines. He speaks with anger and love, leaving melo-

What the book lacks in terms of direction, consistency of treatment, and professionalism is somewhat-but not enoughbalanced by the sincerity and dysfunctional political correctness of the authors. Written by two female clinical social workers and practicing psychotherapists in New York City, this introduction to homosexuality is intended to meet the needs which are never clearly stated of a wide audience: psychologists, guidance councelors, social workers, pastors, parents, and friends. Whew!

With eleven chapters, an appendix, glossary, notes and bibliography, the book has all the appearances of a sound professional treatment of the topic. But throughout are a number of inconsistencies of treatment of topics, terms and tone. There

after this book has been closed, these lyric verses will waft through your soul.

Essex Hemphill is a poet, performance artist, and publisher of Be Bop Books. When not traveling to perfrom his work, Hemphill lives in Philadelphia. ▼

is a chapter on religion that quotes biblical text, yet does not include Leviticus. Another chapter focusing on homophobia states that homosexuality was primarily seen as a sin prior to the mid-nineteenth century. Could the authors really have been so ignorant of other ancient and cross-cultural perspectives?

A chapter on AIDS virtually ignores the issues and concerns of women and children, and it speaks of AZT without ever identifying or defining it. Another chapter on older lesbians and gay men never clearly defines what is "older." And a chapter on special-need groups finds the authors tripping over each other-and their groups with their political correctness to a degree that the point they are trying to make gets lost in the shuffle. As a result, each group seems to get short-changed.

There is also an appendix on safer sex. Why was this one page not included with the chapter on AIDS? There is a 28-item glossary that is so limited as to be ridiculous and insulting. It indicates, for example, that while "lezzie" is a negative term for lesbians; of "faggot," "fairy," "queen." and "queer," only the last term has negative connotations.

So, what could have been a valuable contribution to the counseling setting reads more like a handbook written by Fred and Ethel Mertz, with Edith Bunker as editor.

Dykes to Watch Out For The

Honey

Amooners

1990 BY ALISON BECNDEL.

! COULD DROWN

IN YOUR EYES! THE

PUPILS ARE SO DILATED, THEY'RE COMPLETELY BLACK

AFTER THE

LAST REVELERS DEPART, OUR NEWLYWEDS UNPLUG THE PHONE. AND RETIRE TO THEIR MATRIMONIAL FUTON

IN SEARCH Of

NEW HEIGHTS

IN CONJUGAL RAPTURE.

I CAN SEE

HEY, DIDJA KNOW YOU HAVE A ZIT ON YOUR SHOULDER?

OH!

YOUR AURA!

SIGH!

MEANWHILE...

INSPIRED BY CLARICE & TONI'S ROMANTIC VOW

OF COMMITMENT, MO & HARRIET ARE DETERMINED TO FAN THE FALTERING FLAMES OF THEIR OWN LACKLUSTER LOVE LIFE!

YOU HAD ONIONS ON YOUR TOFU PUP, DIDN'T YOU?

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT I'LL BRUSH MY TEETH AGAIN.

COULD WE, LIKE, SLOW DOWN? YOU ALWAYS GO RIGHT FOR MY BREASTS. HOW COME YOU NEVER KISS MY HANDS OR ANYTHING ANYMORE?

NOW WHAT? WHY'D YOU STOP?

MY ARM IS FALLING

ASLEEP, OKAY? GMME A BREAK!

LATER.. THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE! I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A TRANCE, IT WAS SO INTENSE

YEAH, WOW. AURAS AND PSYCHIC VISIONS AND SIMULTANEOUS ORGASMS... WE

SHOULD GET MARRIED EVERY WEEK.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO

HOME

SCOTT

Custom Travel Service. 721-9500

Gay & Lesbian

•Airline Tickets

•Amtrak

•Vacations

•Cruises

• Groups

11322 EUCLID AVENUE

Next Door Brandywines

Meet & Hear

LINO BROCKA Filipino director of "Macho Dancer" and many other films as he discusses his life, movies and sexuality in film SIGNED: LINO BROCKA and in person, Mon., Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Five more Brocka films will be shown 11/30-12/15..

Larry Kramer & David Wojnarowicz in 2 films by Rosa von Praunheim

POSITIVE

THE GAY COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO AIDS

SILENCE-DEATH

N.Y. ARTISTS FIGHT AGAINST AIDS

1st Cleve. showing! 12/2 at 7:30

The Cleveland Cinematheque at the Cleve. Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd. Univ. Circle. Each program $4. Free, secu. parking 421-7450