Review of Kris Ringman's "Sail Skin"

 Kris Ringman, Sail Skin (Handtype Press, 2022) 70 pages, poetry. More info here.

Kris Ringman has written a contemplative poetry collection that aches with the longing for connection. There are images of taxidermy, an affinity with animals (particularly of the canine family), a cross-section of cultures, a cannibalism fetish, and, most strongly, a series of poems about sailing and the sea.

As a disabled person myself, I decided to reach out to presses that focus on publishing the work of disabled poets as a reviewer. This book is part of that initiative. Ringman is a deaf poet and writes from that perspective. Among their poems are those which speak of the "outside" feeling of being deaf and the idea of foxes that sign: "hands/ in the air spell out their feelings" - "If Paws Were Hands". A sublime moment is this: "The only reason I wish I could hear/ is to learn how to open my mouth - / ... // I want to make you weep/ from just one word - " - "Mountain".

Other favourite lines are:

"I follow them/ without my body, only the wish to become." - "Can't I Just Be a Fox?"

"like the memories you carry of the men/ who have assaulted you?// So careful,/ how they slow down - " - "That Precarious Edge"

"The problem with having lived in several countries/ is everything follows you home." - "That Precarious Edge"

"Since when is the world a solid place to stand?" - "A Boat Carries You"

"Sometimes only the broken pieces/ are showing, but that doesn't mean/ the rest isn't whole." - "Fox Skin"

Yes(ABLED) Is(sue) is Live!

Dear Kinfolk,

The Yes(ABLED) Special Is(sue) is live! It can be found here: https://www.avantappalachia.com/special-issues.html 

There are 4 countries featured, including 4 states in the U.S. You will find a poem by Volodymyr Bilyk of Ukraine written in a precursor of Braille called Moon Type, some thought-provoking poetry from Ricky Ray in Connecticut, and a fascinating essay regarding mental illness by Brandy Renee McCann from Virginia. We hope that this is(sue) highlights the unique perspective and creativity of the disabled population worldwide. 

The submission period for the 9th regular is(sue) is still wide open. The deadline for it is now set at May 31, 2021. Please read the guidelines under “Sub(missions)” in the menu on the website as there have been some changes. 

Thank you so much – all of you – for making this ezine every incredible thing that is! We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. 

We would like to take a moment to express condolences for the deaths of regular contributors Philip Kent Church and Linda Regula earlier this year. 

Please stay safe during this unusual year. We are sending you calmness and best wishes! 

Sincerely, 

 Sabne Raznik 

 Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Final Notice of Yes(Abled) Is(sue) Deadline and Event Info

Dear Kinfolk, 

This is your last notice of the deadline for the special Yes(ABLED) Is(sue). That is September 30, 2020 with a go live date of October 15, 2020. We still need poetry, art, and short prose. If you are disabled (interpreted broadly), you may submit on any topic. If you are ablebodied, please keep your subjects limited to disability or caregiver issues and approach these sensitively. 

 Also, we would like to inform you of AvantAppal(achia)’s first event: a virtual poetry reading on Zoom featuring Pauletta Hansel, Lorie Zientara, Ellyn Maybe, and myself with a limited open mic depending on how many join us. I will be attempting to record this event to place it on Youtube later if tech allows. Here is the Zoom info to attend: 

Topic: AvantAppal(achia) Virtual Poetry Reading Time: Sep 25, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74220823627... Meeting ID: 742 2082 3627 Passcode: 862055 One tap mobile +17207072699,,74220823627#,,,,,,0#,,862055# US (Denver) +12532158782,,74220823627#,,,,,,0#,,862055# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 742 2082 3627 Passcode: 862055 Find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fd7MorRSMr 

 We are very excited about what’s going on at AvantAppal(achia) currently. Thank you so much for making this astounding and important ezine everything that it is!  

https://www.avantappalachia.com/ 

Sincerely, 

Sabne Raznik 

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Review of "'Every Man His Specialty': Beckett, Disability, and Dependence" by Michael Davidson

 Michael Davidson, "Every Man His Specialty: Beckett, Disability, and Dependence (2007) 14 pages. On The Free Library.

Originally, I struggled with Beckett and his (obviously important) portrayal of the disabled. Was Beckett ableist or was he satirizing the (at that time, popular) pseudo-science of eugenics (which includes all the disgraceful, harmful, hateful -isms). Was he for eugenics or against it? My initial reaction to Beckett was simply that I was triggered. In the real PTSD sense. Reading his work caused me to have chills, break out in a sweat, and become physically nauseous. It seemed on the surface to be the most blatantly ableist material I've ever come across. After reading this I have made peace with Beckett. I still have issues with his methods, but I no longer question his intentions and end game (pun intended). This also includes an interesting and much-needed discussion of the ableist worldview that independence and accomplishment are what make people worthy of life and participation in society to the exclusion of disabled people who require external assistance to survive, whether that be from assistive technology or other more able people. This view of what makes a human worthy to participate in society and to have life seriously needs loudly challenged and changed. This paper argues that Beckett is highlighting these so-called "codependent" and dependent relationships to do just that. Okay then. I can definitely live with that, Beckett, and on behalf of the disabled people trying to survive and even be (a different but equally important kind of) productive within the ableist worldview - thank you!

(Yes)Abled Is(sue) and North/South Appalachia

Dear Kinfolk,

You heard about it in the email about the Is(sue) 8 release. Here are more details.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce AvantAppal(achia)'s 2nd Special Is(sue), titled (Yes)ABLED! This is(sue) will be dedicated to the work of disabled poets, artists, and short story writers. Subject need not be related to the experience of being disabled, but is open. The usual guidelines apply, with the exception that "(Yes)ABLED" must be included in the email subject line since the submission period for the regular Is(sue) 9 will be open at the same time. This Special Is(sue) will appear and remained archived under Special Is(sues) in the menu for as long as this website continues. The deadline for (Yes)ABLED is March 31, 2020. It will go live on April 15, 2020.

Please spread the word and help us make this Special Is(sue) a success!

Also, the North/South Collective, of which AvantAppal(achia) is a part, just had a reorganization. The new website is here at North/South Appalachia. Poems and art submitted to AvantAppal(achia) that we feel will be a good fit for North/South Appalachia may be included on the North/South blog. We will approach the poet and artist for permission to share work there first, of course.

Thank you so much for making these projects as spectacular as they are!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik
Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Is(sue) 8 of AvantAppal(achia) and (Yes)Abled Is(Sue)

Dear Kinfolk,

The editors are happy to announce that is(sue) 8 of AvantAppal(achia) is live! We seemed to have dodged, for now at least, those nasty digital bugs which have slowed us in the past. We present a nice shiny new is(sue).


Is(sue) 8 contains work from 6 different countries -Canada, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States - and five different states - Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. We are proud to publish some excellent work and you should be proud of producing it.


We are also announcing AvantAppal(achia)'s 2nd Special Is(sue) titled (Yes)ABLED! The is(sue) is to be dedicated to the work of disabled poets, artists, and short story writers. Details for submission can be found on the site and the deadline is March 31, 2020.

Sabne Raznik wants me to remind everyone of a recent site upgrade which made it more compatible with mobile devices, but as a result in order to see bylines for the Avant(Art) section, you must click on the image.

Another reminder is that we, the editorial team, are volunteers and any help you can give to defray expenses is greatly appreciated. Find the Donat(ions) link and give us some PayPal love.

Do not fail to check the Arch(ive) tab to see which pieces have been chosen to represent the past is(sue). As we head into 2020, the submission period for is(sue) 9 is open and the deadline for submission is May 30, 2020 with the is(sue) going live on June 15.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and as a personal note I would like to thank Sabne Raznik for letting me come along for the ride!

AvantAppal(achia)

Prejudice of the Disabled in Classic Literature and Today

We all love Jane Austen, right? That's *fairly* universal. Well, here's some food for thought.

Mr. Darcy is a character that women swoon for even today and is held up in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" as a model for all men of gentlemanliness. Consider this, however. In the book, he is betrothed from birth to Lady Catherine de Bourgh's daughter, a sickly, mostly shut-in girl. But, of course, he prefers Elizabeth Bennet. There is nothing wrong with that, per se. Elizabeth is charming and witty and definitely his match. What should concern us as a society, but which is never remarked upon, is the fact that Miss de Bourgh's poor health is used to justify Darcy's complete lack of interest in her. Even Elizabeth expresses disdain when she sees Miss de Bourgh in a carriage as if to say: "Darcy deserves nothing better." Austen also takes a stab at emotional disorders with the character of Elizabeth Bennet's mother.

Perhaps Austen realised that injustice as her own health failed tragically early. In "Mansfield Park", the heroine Fanny Price suffers from mild health issues. She is described as one who requires daily exercise in the fresh air, pale at times, and prone to quick fatigue and headaches. Alarmingly, this is one of the major reasons why the majority of readers describe "Mansfield Park" as their least favourite Austen book. Critics describe the character as unbearably whiny and fragile. The fact that she also has strong principles and conviction to withstand peer pressure is a mark against her as well, regarded by modern audiences as being self-righteous. Most modern day retellings of "Mansfield Park" make Fanny Price much more robust and mischevious. Only in the 1983 BBC made-for-TV mini-series is Fanny portrayed as Austen intended. This version is very difficult to find nowadays. The implication is clear: how could any man truly deeply love any woman who is even mildly challenged health-wise.

This continues today. How many plot lines can you think of which use a spouse's disability to justify and garner sympathy for the able-bodied spouse who is thus burdened and/or commits adultery? Personally, it is too many to count or list here.

The fact that these portrayals have not been pointed out to date is a disturbing reminder that in our modern society it is still acceptable to dismiss and even disdain those who are sickly or disabled. Growing up, I was told multiple times that no one would want to marry me because I'm too much work for a man to willingly accept due to my Cerebral Palsy. While some readers may feel proper indignation at reading that, it is a sad truth for many disabled. We are told, "take the relationships arranged for you by others, marry one of your own kind, or end up alone." Sometimes, you will hear a disabled person remark in a faux-glib tone: "I can't marry." Notice the shift in blame, the tendency to internalise society's idea that the disabled person is at fault because they are disabled and not potential partners and society for teaching those potential partners that it's ok to view a disabled person as a burden or even lacking in character simply because they are challenged. 

Some carry these prejudicial attitudes without realising it. There are those who will talk about how the disabled who need government assistance are lazy and a burden on the taxpayer, but when a relative points out to them that they are disabled and on government assistance, that same person will reply without hesitation "That's different." What is even more frustrating is that these ones fail to see the hypocrisy in that stance and how the rhetoric against the "lazy" also hurts the relative who is "different." Now, it is not my intention to get into politics here. This is simply the best and easiest to explain example of the kind of double-thinking that often happens so that people can somehow rationalise and live with the disgusting prejudicial views they hold and the actions that stem from them.

In the last 5 to 8 years there has been a slight shift in literature. Disabled writers and poets, rather than allowing disable-shaming to silence them, are beginning to write about their experiences, to bring forward characters that open readers' eyes to a challenged person's point of view. This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. Currently, it is but a whisper in the shouting static of societal opinion, but it is there. 

Perhaps in another couple hundred years...

Joie De Vivre: Maiden Voyage Down the Russell Fork River

Joie de vivre. The joy of living. That's what we're after. That's what we're always after. And having it takes boldness. We are the Sissies.

It may not have looked like boldness to others. We were a group of 6 women. Most of them are older. I'm in my mid-thirties, but have Cerebral Palsy. I am not a strong swimmer, even with a life jacket to do the work of keeping my head above water. But we live in Elkhorn City, KY. - gateway to the Breaks Interstate Park known as the Grand Canyon of the South - and if you live there you are a river rat. Going down the river is what everyone does, so why not us?

The Russell Fork river has world class rapids when the dam is released in October with names like El Horrendo and the Meat Grinder. Most in our group are experienced river rats who know the river's currents and surprises. For two of us, including myself, it was a maiden voyage. Despite an unusually wet summer, the river has been low all season and we figured that would make it ideal for newbies. We decided on rafting a portion of what is known locally as "the fun run", which starts at Ratliff Hole and brings you into the city. This stretch is less dangerous than others and can be done in about an hour by experienced rafters.

In preparation, we shopped for gear. We ended with a four-man raft and a three-man triangular raft that is meant to be towed behind another boat. I got a new life-jacket and modified it according to my specific needs. Someone brought a floating cooler.

I admit I was apprehensive about going down the river. After a lifetime of falling, I have developed numerous related phobias, including an aversion to that flip-flop feeling in the stomach that happens when you go down a hill too fast or get on a roller coaster. I was not confident about my abilities to navigate a raft or even stay in it. So I found myself propped against a man-sized rock at Jesse Mack's just above Ratliff Hole - jacketed and braced, with sunglasses and a hat - waiting for the other girls to get the rafts to the water. "Don't worry about water snakes," one of the Sissies said. "It's a case of leave them alone and they'll leave you alone." I wasn't thinking about snakes. "It's too late now, so in you go," I told myself.

It was rocky there, so I was helped to the triangular raft. It has three holes to sit in, which gave me a place to lock my legs into the raft to hold me in it. Once I was in place the tri was launched and my companions boarded. The other raft, with the floating cooler, took a bit longer to get in the water and we soon lost sight of it.

The tri steers by spinning rather than going in a straight line. I was thankful for my dancer training (via DVDs) on how to spot when making turns. This kept me from getting dizzy and help me stay oriented. At first, I left it to my more experienced companions to man the oars and concentrated on holding on. I didn't know what to expect up ahead.

Since the water was low and the current slow, we spent most of our time avoiding rocks and getting unstuck. Many rocks were clearly visible under the water. The tri was slow-going. "We got the minivan," we cried out to the others, "you got a Ferrari!" Ferrari would pass us and those Sissies would pull to the shore in order for one of them to smoke. Then we would pass it, back and forth. A curious heron flirted with us along the way.

The first rapids we came to were nerve-racking to me, but we rode them without incident and I thought: "This is no worse than a water rapids ride at an amusement park."

By the time Pool Point came into view, I was starting to relax. I've heard many stories about Pool Point. People jumping from the bridge often lose their shoes. Old timers say that years ago a train derailed there and the car that sunk was never found. A hiking trail leads from the road to the river there and locals have tied a rope for swimming. I have walked the bridge, but could never hike down, so seeing Pool Point from the vantage of the river was awe-inspiring for me: the bridge spanning above like a steel high wire over the emerald ribbon of deep calm water against a dirty white sky. Some boys swimming there laughed at us while we hooted and hollered to hear it echo back off the cliffs around us.

At Sand Hole, we caught up with the Ferrari again and took a moment to get a drink from the cooler. Then we went on.

Eventually, we came to Cold Springs. We got stuck on some rocks again, so a Sissy got out to pull us free. "If I get out, I can help too," the other said. "No, no!" we insisted. She did. The raft lifted off, got grabbed by the current, and zipped away.

I was alone in the raft with no experience whatsoever to guide me! I turned in time to see a Sissy dive after me. Clinging to the side, she was going down the falls unprotected! What to do? I twisted around and locked hands with her to keep her from  ripping away. "You have to steer!" she commanded. My left arm is stronger, so I held on to her with my right and paddled with my left. Her head was near the oar. I had a vision for a split-second of her sinking to the bottom with a gashed temple. But I swallowed that fear and paddled on. "Where do I go? Where do I go?" "Head to shore, if you can," she answered.

Soon the raft grounded on rocky bank. The Sissy waded in and pulled it up securely on shore. "I have to go back for E. The river will eventually rock you back out. If it does before I get back to you, just hang tight. This is Long Hole. I'll catch up with you before you get anywhere. In the meantime, don't move."

Don't move. Okey Dokey. I did, though. I was contorted into a painful position and had to raise up to see back up the river. E. was still standing in the middle of the river where we left her, bewildered. But I was surprisingly calm. It was a scary minute or two, but I hadn't panicked. I had taken control of the situation. "I've got this," I thought. No fear.

Enter the Ferrari. As E crawled across rocks to the bank, it rocketed through Cold Springs without a hitch. We then regrouped where I waited, grounded.

The Sissies in the Ferrari had their adventure at Sand Hole. After we went on, they reboarded their raft. But in doing so, the cooler flipped over. The weight of the drinks inside opened the lid, releasing the hydration to the depths below. One of them dove after it, but it was too late. The drinks drowned. It took a while in the telling between the laughter.

We traded out Sissies and continued on. It was mostly calm waters to paddle through after that. I was now confident enough to take turns with the oar. One Sissy even jumped off and took a swim.

We got out at Blue Hole (a.k.a. Carson Island). The Sissies in the Ferrari had gotten there before us. A fire was already crackling. We had a fine picnic. We sang. We laughed.

Some criticized me for going down the river. They claimed that doing so with my health was a reckless disregard for life. The fact is that the Sissies would not have allowed me to if they thought I couldn't handle it. I couldn't care less what other people think about what I do. I'm sick; I'm not dead. Joie de vivre. The only way to live.