Draft-dodger, Jesus-freak, “conditional pacifist,” prolific writer, devoted father, unwavering romantic, bohemian bard, “ecstatic depressive,” gregarious hermit… this rollicking collection of some 200 original works draws from thousands of inspired poems penned over the course of four decades by Sam W. Reimer, an (hitherto) unsung gem of a poet.
As you dip in and out of this “vaudeville of verse,” listen carefully to the timbre of the poet's voice as the words “step off the silent page and onto the stage of your own gray matter”—meditative murmurs of devotion, passionate pleas for love, laughably nonsensical truisms, and edicts belted out with liquid courage. (Sprinkled throughout, you'll also encounter flotSams and jetSams that may just change your outlook on life—don't say you haven't been warned).
Robert L. Peters, Editor
23 October 2008—Steinbach, Manitoba
Today’s issue of The Carillon (published in Steinbach, Sam W’s birthplace) included a well-written piece by Doris Penner re: her impressions of Gray Matter Graffitti and the poetry reading and book-signing event at the Mennonite Heritage Village museum two weeks ago. Read or download a PDF of the article (176 KB) here.