John Patrick Acevedo
John Patrick Acevedo has read almost all of the biographies on the legendary singer and songwriter Marvin Pentz Gaye, Jr.
Bottomless Toothpaste Flats in Bruges (A Poet’s Memoir)
by John Patrick Acevedo
Xlibris
book review by Jonah Meyer
“Nobody does Harley Quinn like
government. Nothing backs-up Harley
Quinn like a poet.
So I handed Quinn the poem I began the year Thorazine took my legs”
When reading Acevedo’s poetry, it becomes obvious that he is a dedicated fan of the late singer/songwriter Marvin Gaye. In this newest memoir and poetry collection, Acevedo sojourns in Bruges, Belgium, visiting the historically preserved “Lunasia,” where the famous recording artist spent time in rehab, journaling about his experiences and philosophies. The literary result by Acevedo is nothing less than a small poetic masterpiece. How the poet meshes his writings and self-styled poetics with that of Gaye is stunning. In his piece “Checkout Girl,” Acevedo writes, “The light’s gone out for me. / Even the drink don’t work anymore. Saw my poetry flash before my eyes. / Saw the young journalists line up outside / holding markers and flowers.” Other popular musicians populate Acevedo’s poems, as well, including Cat Stevens, James Taylor, REM, Paul McCartney, U2, and Tom Petty.
Acevedo’s collection is a musically poetic landscape which one minute has King Kong taking down the Empire State and in the next turns Buster Keeton into a verb in a “silent theatre [who] deserves a whack in the face.” He writes of Gautama Buddha, Jesus, love and lust (“in the Bible sense of the word”), ambitious procrastination, and dirty laundry. Bordering on stream-of-consciousness narrative, Acevedo’s poetry nonetheless leaves hints of fruit and other rare beauties here and there among the sweet mess of it all. For readers who enjoy his entirely unique voice and style, this newest addition to his body of work is highly recommended. One can almost imagine this most creative and atypical writer achieving a cult-like following if word gets out properly.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
Podcast:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yusAqwFvgmVXSvUqShuxubQmN9npXida/view?usp=drivesdk