GEIST: Animal Visions by Carol Berge, Signs of Literary Life, Findings

From Periodics 4 (Fall 1978 ).

Peach cobbler seasoned with nutmeg. Fried chicken covered with batter made with jalapeno peppers. Chess pie. Blackeyed peas with slab bacon. Ham hocks and turnip greens. Doughnuts made by cutting out biscuit dough with coke bottle, then frying, then rolling in cinnamon and sugar. Corn bread liberally mixed with jalapeno peppers. Coca-cola, in the morning on arising, with meals, between meals, as a midnight beverage. Grits, green beans with fatback. Red beans, rice & sausage meat. Lemon lime cream pie. Dr. Pepper.

Claude Fike. Bert Goss. Charles Acres. Ellistine Lewis. Peggy Prenshaw. Dale Danks. Chauncey Godwin. Elizabeth Dribben. Herman DeCell. Jimmy Weems. Estus Smith. Armin Twiss. Cliff Finch. Ronald Knouse. Davenport Mosby. James Edgy. Gavin MacBain. Gayle Goodin. Lewis Dollarhide. David Berry. Bernice (pronounced burn-niss). Imogene (pronounced I’m a gin). Chris Wilberding. Mavis Payne, DeWayne Dee. Jo Bee Oilschlager. Dalbert. Marla Lou. Judee Sue Dockery. Billie Jo. Jackie Jo. Billie Lou. Billie Anne. Jimmy Ann. Dorothy Ann. Sammy Lou. Jimmy Sue. Susie Jo. Honey Lee.

Lacy, Leola, Lina. Wilburn Wade, Truman Walley, Levis Yarbrough. Lavelle Cooley, Alton Hall, Berdie Summer. Evon Kurley, Vonce Butler; Royce, Elmo, Levon, Jewell, Purvis, Aubrey, Duval, Lacoy. Earline Roseberry. Dace. Vester. Rhynda Lynn. Tommie Lou. LaNelle Schimpf. Earl Crawley. Byron Bynum. Orville Sugg. Lister Broom. Niles Dwain. Lesha Camp. Porpia Fant. Elzey Arledge. Diemut Horne. Poteet DeWeese. Morson Lott. Theora Hamblet. Pecolia Yates. Talmadge Lamar Tenhet. Ronee Hermetz.

Sign on a Gas Station (changed daily): “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching and reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

                          2 Tim 3:16”

Bumper sticker: “Smile, God loves you.”

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Carol Berge's "Animal Visions"

This tricky prose poem still rocks and rolls. At once current, dated, abnormal, humorous, horrid, scary, icky, tried, true... God's perspective while eating souls, being marginally comparable to what we humans choose for our supper, was Carol's overt intent. But she also enjoyed messing with peoples' heads (until "karma" took her for a loop); how devastating, that her lover at the time (the photographer Alan Dye) disappeared shortly after this poem was published; she quit dating after that, and began investing in antiques rather than romance. Yet she refined and redefined her master prose projects for another two decades alongside a tiny round-the-clock staff and several devoted friends who entered and exited her perpetually unlocked door with an odd blend of respect, disdain, curiosity, and love.

James K Beach, editor more than 7 years ago

Animal Visions

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Carol Berge's "Animal Visions"

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