Miguel Conner

The Odontiad & Other Poems Miguel Conner

A stunning collection of poems on various themes. The Odontiad is a 32-sonnet sequence, initially about the quotidian concept of tooth decay, which expanded to express the nature of decay and collapse in general, and a lens through which I could communicate these unusual 'shut-in times'. The poems express themes from the nature of memory, reality and one's life, with a gnostic perspective.

Sonnet IV was selected for the Virginia Bards Poetry Anthology 2020.

This is Aaman Lamba's second published book, following the best-selling definitive edition of The Complete Illustrated Grand Grimoire. The audio narration by Miguel Conner brings the poems to life. The cover art is by Deepti Lamba, which expresses the nature of decay and The Odontiad so well. Excerpts:


Sonnet IV

Nothing ever came from nothing, nothing could
Yet when I feel the serrated gaps, I wish it would.
My life a constant pain, only memories sweet
Seeing so many others smiling in the street.
As I lie shivering 'neath this tarp,
The windy city chills my heart.
Slowly reaching for a coin,
In this bitter and cruel Tenderloin Surrealist Manifesto #24

I heard the mating call
In the lawn outside the hall
'Twas the flat-footed sheep
It's mournful dirge a weep
The captain opened his door
'Ahoy!' he called in a scream
Being disturbed from his dream
When he did hear the foghorn roar
~Bricks ahead!' was the replying wail The Way of Desire & Memory

Pages torn out of history
Tell tales which come again
For what is past is in the mind
The keeper of future is memory