Cells
Cells was released by PublishAmerica in January 2005. Ask for it at your local bookstore,
order an autographed copy from me, or order it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books A
Million (or straight from the PublishAmerica website). The ISBN is 1-4137-4180-0 and the
retail price is $19.95.
Plugs
"I am a creation/ of turbulence," Scott C. Holstad writes in his new
book, Cells. Indeed! Cells is fierce, funny, tender, and devastating.
Hang on for your life..."
--Robert Polito
Scott Holstad thinks in poetry, in rhythmical waves. His imagination
surges ahead, large and generous, the cut of his lines always clean
and firm. These fervent, honest, well-made poems carry the reader
through the underworld and back, in a healing action that reminds us
of Rimbaud's "Drunken Boat" or Odysseus' journey with the golden bough.
"Tegretol" is destined to become a contemporary classic. "Tennessee
Football Saved My Ass" reminds us of Holstad's unfailing, albeit
dark sense of humor, that never fails.
--Marilyn Kallet
Cells is as grand as it is explosive. Scott Holstad's urgent and unflinching honesty will leave you
breathless. A brave and heartbreaking book written by a fearless poet.
--Lisa Zaran
A Sample Poem
Roller Coaster
I look at the world
like frost in a windowpane,
confused, unseeing,
and I wait
for a solution
which will never come.
Bipolars either
Go! Go! Go!
or
wait.
I
went
pretty hard
last month
and now they’ve
gotten me back onto
anti-depressants
in addition
to the Neurontin
and Klonopin
and the occasional
Xanax.
I’m waiting for the
morbid
morose
gothic
weird
deadly
to overtake me
and the anti-depressants
are meant to help get
me back on my feet,
stabilize me.
Wellbutrin didn’t work out
too well, so it’s back to
Paxil, the wonderful
libido killer of the
universe.
I see the world
through eyes
glazed over
searching for
relief from the
ungodly pain
fuck the stigma
I just want
normalcy.
2005 Scott C. Holstad
This poem originally appeared in The Awakenings Review.
