something wonderfully important has happened! my "wrestling dad" josh shepard got his book of wrestling erasure poems published & it is up for sale (either 10$ or "name a fair price"). this is incredibly important to me as im one of the first people to have gotten the privilege to read these poems as josh wrote them. josh is incredibly important to me as a friend, he is the guy who introduced me to wrestling & gave me a deep, unrestricted passion for it.
josh is so fucking talented, & creative. he is also my favorite poet, not just bc he's my friend. the book's flow is dedicated to the flow of a wrestling match, following all the hallmarks (the lock up, big heat, the comeback, ect) with the themes of his poems to create a match like narrative for the book.
there are like three specific poems in the batch that i want tattooed on me, a stone cold one, a mick foley one, & a briscoe brother's piece. the aj lee pipebomb poem moved me to actual tears, even when i read it now. the macho man poem abt being bipolar struck me so hard i rethought my own feeling on my mental health. josh pushes impressive themes of capitalism, mental health, poverty, & family theoughout many of his poems. i know ive got a few wrestling fans here, & if you're also into poetry please considered josh's work. or just if you want to support a friend of mine.
a cool way to support josh's work is by requesting it at your local library! even suggesting to bookstores that have poetry sections or interacting with the work thats already published. following/reposting josh's work for exposure also is great.
bruiser zine said this:
The second volume in the BRUISER Zines series, Cutting Promos is a collection of pro wrestling erasure poems by the Oklahoma City poet Josh Shepard. Printed and assembled in Baltimore, this limited edition zine collects 26 poems previously published in BRUISER, HAD, The Daily Drunk and many other fine publications.
After being laid off at the onset of the pandemic, Shepard found comfort and inspiration in the glow of professional wrestling and its performers—their violent struggles, fighting spirit, and electric language—and from their speeches and promos that have inspired wrestling fans across the globe he delivers Cutting Promos, a collection of erasures that echoes the personalities, pursuits and perseverance of pro wrestling’s greatest, standing as a testament to life lived during Hard Times and deliverance through them.
[ IN CASE YOU MISSED THE LINK ABOVE TO BUY JOSH'S BOOK ] [ JOSH'S TWITTER | INSTA | LINKTR.EE* ] *a lot of the links don't work bc the publications went under :( but there's still quiet a few up for free here
support my kayfabe father!!! i watched him turn his hard times into beautiful pieces. even in the beginning when he only had 3 or 4, before he even thought he could make the book i saw his passion for these pieces. i was there for every heart wrenching rejection letter & every hard earned spot. every time he was working late at the library sending me new ideas bc he couldn't watch dynamite. every single wrestling poem josh has written has now been published & that is a huge success. he puts in the work like a wrestler puts in the work in the ring. hard hitting, gritty, & beautiful.
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anyone can make a zine, regardless of skill level or access to materials or design programs. all you need is paper, scissors and drawing utensils (although many people enjoy collaging!) web search "8 page 1 sheet zine how to".
everyone SHOULD make a zine too, you will feel so good about it ♡ it's about putting the power of production into the hands of the people! also you don't have to sell it or anything, you can just make one for yourself or trade/give some to friends!
i really love julia grofrer's guide to analogue self publishing aka making zines on 8.5x11 paper
and jaydragon/jdragsky's thread on staple's self serve print centres (if you're area does not have a local print shop, they probably have a staples or fedex print centre)
if you can't draw, here is twitter thread for public domain art and also a mini summary of when thing enter creative commons (generally 70 years after artist death in the US and CAD)
i also have a DIY zine page on my art blog that i am dedicated to updating as i find more resources! (not accessible through tumblr mobile app, mobile friendly, just open the link in a browser)
go make some zines!!!
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The floorboards whisper creaks under your feet as you step into your and Levi’s bedroom.
Only for you to stop just to smile at the sight before you. It didn’t take you more than a minute to get a glass of water before bed. Levi was pulling on a sweatshirt when you left; he’s slightly curled up under the covers, and now that it’s winter, he’s more of a shapeless lump. The puffy white duvet on top rests below his chin. With his eyes peacefully closed, fewer creases show than usual.
He doesn’t open his eyes. “Stop leaving.”
“I only left once…” you chuckle. "Awe, did you miss me?”
“No…” he mumbles. His eyes are still closed.
You feign a small ecstatic gasp as you walk over to him, setting down the water, and then placing a light kiss on his forehead.
“Are you sleepy already?”
He grunts unhappily. “Answers come at a cost.”
“And that is?”
“Getting in bed.”
You stroke his hair, still smiling. This placates him a little.
"Bathroom. I'll be right back, okay?"
"Mm."
You wander to the bathroom, but stop in the doorway, to sneak one more peek. He’s suffered rampant sleeplessness in all the years you’ve known him, in part by force. So seeing him this carefree and relaxed…
You count yourself lucky.
He must think you’re gone. He curls up more, lips pulling down in a small pout as the outline of his arm under the cover descends to help along his bad leg and the pillow it’s propped on. But the annoyance fades from his expression soon after pressing his cheek into the thick pillow under his head, making it squish. He sighs softly.
It's so blatantly adorable that you stand there for a moment, unsure of what to even do with yourself.
You finish up in the bathroom as briskly but as quietly as possible. It's a little silly for how mundane it is, but you don't want to miss even a moment of this for the world. When was the last time Levi snuggled up under covers or mumbled on the edge of dozing off without a care? Never?
You switch off the light, so all that's left is the small lamp glowing gently on your side. Before rounding the bed, you let yourself take in the sight for a beat longer.
When was the last time you smiled to yourself without a care like this? Never.
You switch the light off and pull down the covers as subtly as possible before joining him, curling up at his back. When you drape your arm around his waist, he makes a tiny chirrup sound like a cat.
When you're all settled, you kiss the top of his head, sighing softly. His hair is so soft.
He sighs the same. Lazily, he takes your arm and nudges it tighter around his middle, before his breathing falls deep.
You smile once again.
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