I first encountered Robert O'Neal in 1998, when he submited some poems to Devil Blossoms. Oh, I'd read his poems in various small press publications prior to this and certainly enjoyed them, but could not be pressed to identify Robert as the author. That's the beauty of Robert the poet -- he devotes his energies toward writing ass-kicking good poetry rather than cultivating a persona as a poet, so much so it is often difficult for the casual reader to remember his name. As I recall (and I may be misremembering this) he initially thought I'd bite his head off and send him flying into the abyss, having heard of my reputation for being a son of a bitch. We were both pleased to discover that I wasn't quite the S.O.B. I was alleged to be, and we became friends. And, as a further demonstration of what a prince of a guy he is, he stopped officially submitting poetry to me, not wanting to take advantage of our friendship. Still, every once in a while he'd stick a poem in with a letter, and every once in a while, I'd ask him if he'd mind if I used it. Reading the poems gathered here, you will find many of the hallmarks of a Robert O'Neal poem: his keen insight, erudition and vitrolic honesty. Unfortunately for those of us who know and love the poems of Robert O'Neal he has, to date, only had two collections published. The first, Golgotha & other headaches was published by Asterius Press in 2001 and his second, Pinfeathers, Primates & Paradoxes was put out by Pitchfork Press in 2003. We are still eagerly awaiting his third. Herein, you will find four of his more recent offerings, the most notable of which is his thought-provoking and heartfelt elegy for the late great small press editor, Del Reitz.
A COSMIC CLOWN THROWS DOWN ON THE PATRIARCHY RULING MUNDUM ABSURDUM
NOT ONLY MUDFLAPS & BACKWARDS BALL CAPS
A COSMIC CLOWN'S CIRRHOTIC CONUNDRUM
A COSMIC CLOWN'S PRO-CREATIVE TRIPTYCH