Vain

Sketch of Poetry’s Anti-Hero Ananda Selah Osel: An Interview by Andrew Wright

Sketch of Poetry’s Anti-Hero Ananda Selah Osel

Music: Lions Roar by Albert Square

Poet Anada Selah Osel provided by Osel

The United States of Someplace Else

in the cage covered with moss

and tears all three of them sat

sweating and stock-still.

the dead eyes of the others pursued

their naked brown flesh as they

sat arms around knees.

and although they knew they were done

their last stand was a brave clasp to

stay inside that tiny prison.

of course they never made it.

the others came religion and machetes

blazing three days later.

and no one ever heard from

them ever again.

then i put down the Times and

took a sip of my non-fat vanilla

double shot latte.

Ananda Selah Osel is what he is and he’s totally aware of it. Osel’s poetry would best be described as “Absurd Dirty Realism.” Think one part Husserl, one part Bukowski, and one part tragedy; with a punch in the face to boot. Osel is to poetry what Gangster Rap is to gang- bangers: fuel masquerading as words. I talked with w/ him at his home in Seattle, Washington’s Central District in January.

A.W.: What do you mean when you say that you’re an absurdist?

Osel: It’s straightforward. My work is a representation of my worldview. I’m documenting the absurdity of existence but am giving weight to the natural conflict which that particular philosophy creates. The mêlée is the only thing which is faintly essential; without the mêlée futility engulfs the entire affair.

A.W.: So “the mêlée” is life? You’re writing about life?

Osel: The mêlée is the struggle of pursuing the unattainable – essential, objective meaning or purpose. To me, recording the fight is what’s crucial. I’m studying the fight – life and its pleasures and displeasures – which keep on coming (yawns)… as death awaits.

A.W.: You’re implying that suffering creates art.

Osel: Suffering helps. But, if you’re unusually observant it takes much less suffering.

A.W.: You’ve been critical of what you call “the poets.” Can bad poets become good ones?

Osel: It ain’t “good” or “bad”, its instinctive ability. (pauses) Poetry takes talent – talent and time.

A.W.: There’s arrogance in your work. A.W.: Do you revise your work?

Osel: Only if you dislike its intention. Osel: (smiles) Barely.

A.W.: What’s bad about your poetry? A.W.: What’s the best thing about your poetry?

Osel: Its certainty. Osel: Its certainty.

A.W.: Tell me about the 2009 Seattle Poet Populist Election; you were the runner-up.

Osel: Jesus – I wasn’t even on the ballot. I was a fucking write-in candidate. I’d have taken the prize money and ran. They got lucky – I nearly won (laughs).

A.W.: Do you vote? A.W.: Do you pray? A.W.: Do you drink?

Osel: Sometimes. Osel: I try not to. Osel: Mostly wine.

A.W.: You wrote that “scruples are only useful in times of peace.”

Osel: Sure, if you hesitate to kill when standing in front of Death she’ll take you home with her.

A.W.: As a poet what makes…

Osel: (interrupts loudly) - I’m NOT a poet in the sense that you mean it. I can tell by the way you said “poet” so don’t look at me like I’m mad. Come on man – I’m choking on the pungent stench of it all. Don’t lump me with the fine-looking people. I don’t belong to or with them.

A.W.: Fine, but why are you different?

Osel: Read any mass poetry magazine and then ask me that.

A.W.: Give a message to the poetry consumer.

Osel: (sighs) – I think I’ll pass if it’s all the same to you.

A.W.: Ok, last question. Why do you think I’m interviewing you?

Osel: I’m smarter than you are.

Andrew Wright is a poet and journalist from NYC.

Ananda Selah Osel murders time by writing poems and drinking wine. His book La Poésie de Sisyphos (The Poetry of Sisyphus), a collection of existential verse, will be published in 2010. Find more poetry, relevant links, and contact information at: www.ananda-osel.com.

Lion’s Roar by The Albert Square (Milpitas, CA). The Albert Square is a band of dudes hailing from Milpitas, California. They enjoy fishing, wine tasting, the occasional Cribbage match, and episodes of Veronica Mars on DVD. They desperately want to be your friend despite the fact that they are very bad spellers. Stop by and say hello sometime.