Meet the Entangled Poets

several heads photoshopped into one picture

Buy the book: Entangled: a collaboration across time and space

by debora Ewing

Entangled: a collaboration across time and space was released in 2023 by Igneus Press. Social media connected poets who loved to interrogate science with real-life observation. And then the worst science of all happened: global pandemic. An idea born of distance coalesced across the globe and came to life in this poetry anthology.

This collection is grouped loosely into themes: Mind, Matter, Space, Computation, Entanglement. The poets have responded with words reflecting their interest in science as a definition for being alive.

Who are these magical people? They are polymaths. They are scientists, researchers, musicians, artists, writers of science fiction, creative lit, & poetry. They are mothers, fathers, lovers, humans. Let us introduce you:

Melinda A. Smith is unstoppable. From sound collaborations with debora Ewing, Lisa Alletson, Vikki C, and the rest of the Entangled poets, she went on to write SUM, a novella which was longlisted for the BSFA in 2023. Between Tae Kwan Do lessons with her kids and family poetry workshops, she wrote a full-length novel, tentatively titled These Nameless Stars.

From Tony: I’m laboring under a lifelong hip problem that is restricting mobility and causing collateral discomfort so have been working on a volume of poems on resilience and rising from our falls. It’s almost done but I tinker with it occasionally. I’m also back-burning a book on how to be wrong, gracefully, and a novel about whether machines can have consciousness.

From the editor: Tony Cartledge is curator of Fantastical Fiction, an exploration and review of existential Sci-Fi, Metaphysical Spec-Fic and Magical Realism.

Vikki C. is a British-born poet, writer and musician from London whose literary works are informed by ecology, science, existentialism and the human condition.

Having written poetry from a young age, Vikki’s interest in the genre was deepened by the early modernist movement. She was drawn to T.S. Eliot’s work “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” – imagistic qualities interwoven with a wondrous lyrical language. She believes such aesthetic is key to an immersive artistic experience and aims to emulate this through her own style of poetic prose.

When it comes to science and poetry, the two marry in the magic of everyday life. Vikki cannot contemplate the earliest stars without pondering the light years of loss since the inception of the universe.

Vikki C.’s second book of poetry Where Sands Run Finest (DarkWinter Press) was published in Spring 2024.

Find her on Twitter @VWC_Writes and listen to her piano musings on Soundcloud at Vikki C. Music

Bradley Nordell has a PhD in quantum physics, which he uses to take beautiful nature photos in the desert and write science-based literary fiction and poetry. You can see his TEDxLincoln talk on YouTube here: The Science of Tomorrow

Lisa Alletson is a writer & lake lover, possibly a water nymph trapped on the shore having lost her tail. Her award-winning chapbook Good Mother Lizard was published by Headlight Review.

Sonia Saner says: I’m currently drafting my first novel while continuing to write multi-genre poetry. Lately, I’ve taken on editing manuscripts from various writers. This collaborative process inspires me to explore writing longer works in different genres. When I need a break or some fresh inspiration, I love getting involved in tree-planting projects on deforested land. My love for writing and nature has always been deeply connected, and I’m lucky to have an extensive collection of notebooks and a nature reserve right outside my door.

Leslie Almberg is based in Australia. She spends her time emerging herself in the world of research data management and wrangling small beasties.

debora Ewing is stirring the pot. All the pots, any she can get her fingers into. She volunteers as a writer for FolkWorks, an online repository for cultural history, and as a general thorn in the side of FAR-West . Amongst the music community she’s known as an artist, poet, and lyricist, collaborating with Vikki C., Mike Berman and Gates & Goodell, among others. deb loves book design here at Igneus Press, and we love her for it. Look for a new release by debora Ewing from our press in 2025.

Jocelyn Bosley (she/they) is Research Impact Coordinator at University of Nebraska. She’s been busy organizing SciComm, a virtual and in-person conference dedicated to effective communication of science to diverse audiences across all venues.

Sionann is currently praying
in her greenhouse
in a forest
on top of a mountain.
Peace for Palestine.

Get your copy of Entangled: a collaboration across time and space HERE.

At the Crossroads: a ballad of a lie about Robert Johnson

Poem and song by Jack Foley + Tony Perez; narrative and art by deb Ewing

Jack Foley, recitation; Tony Perez, vocal; Don Caruth, guitar; Jon Dryden, piano and Hammond B-3; Doug Pohorsky, bass; Ron E Beck, drums. Engineered by Doug Pohorsky. Mixed and mastered by Steve Glaze.

AT THE CROSSROADS:
A BALLAD OF A LIE ABOUT ROBERT JOHNSON

There’s a dark man waiting
down by the crossroads
they say he’s older
than a thousand years
holds a knife in one hand
in the other a guitar
they say when you meet him
you flow with tears
I’ll see, I’ll see

He’s got a million names
but one’s Old Nick
seen a million things
go down the stream
he’ll never be blessed
but he’ll never die
I always thought
he was just a dream
I’ll see, I’ll see

my name is Robert
son of John
I want my hands
to learn to play
he says I have
an immortal soul
if I have it’s his
I’m in his sway
I’ll see, I’ll see

Dear Robert, Dear Robert
says my soul to me
Dear Robert, Dear Robert
you still are free
you still can refuse
his foul commands
music comes pouring
from my willing hands
I’ll see, I’ll see

Robert Johnson is a legendary blues guitarist – legend says he sold his soul to the devil at The Crossroads (more or less identified as located an intersection north of Clarksdale, Mississippi.) His style was said to be otherworldly. It spawned inspiration in blues players everywhere and earned him a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

John Wayne Harold “Jack” Foley is an American poet, radio personality, and Arts activist whose life and career spans continents. His journey began on the East Coast, diverted to India, and landed him in Oakland, California, whence he operates today, advocating for expression in sound and print. His latest book, Creative Death, can be found here at Igneus Press.

Tony Perez remembers meeting Jack for the first time: “I made a contribution to KPFA in support of your show and as a prize , you drove down to San Jose to give me an hour of your time ( you stayed for 2 ) – we discussed poetry and got to know each other a little. At the time, I was living in a van. What drew me to your show was your reading of Harold Norse poem with the hook : “you must have been a beautiful baby.”