Another old but alive poet worth reading and knowing.
Raindog Armstrongwas born Stephen Armstrong in Lafayette, Indiana on Ground Hog's
Day in 1951. He came west to California soon afterwards, where he continues
to live (except for a brief stint in Texas).
Raised in a middle class family with all the expectations of college, wife
and children, home and career, he came of age during the tumultuous 60s
and never quite recovered.
He was politically active during high school, working for the United
Farm Workers union, as well as participating in numerous anti-war activities.
He was classified as a Conscientious Objector, but was never drafted.
None of this sat well with his parents. Left to his own devices; he left home
at eighteen and drifted away from his family and friends, never entering
college or doing any of the things that were expected of him.
In 1971, after the Sylmar earthquake, he moved to Berkeley, California
with his girlfriend and lived there in the chaos of the times for almost
two years. He then, came back to Los Angeles and has continued to explore
the beach communities from Venice Beach to Long Beach ever since.
Being somewhat rough around the edges, RD has held a variety of jobs over
the years, including Handy Man, Painter, Night-Manager at a Coffee House,
Dishwasher, Janitor, Teacher's aid, and Lay Counselor.
He began writing poetry in high school, where he also began keeping a journal.
He wrote poetry sporadically through the late sixties and into the nineties,
when he finally 'found his voice' and began to seriously pursue the craft.
He kept the journals going and still jots down thoughts and pet-peeves
to this day.
In 1993, just prior to the death of Charles Bukowski (a life-long inspiration
for him), Raindog began to write in earnest. It was as if someone had opened
a tap. Around this time he began to submit his work to magazines,
the "littles" as Bukowski had dubbed them, and he became aware of the
blossoming poetry scene in and around Los Angeles.
It was reminiscent of the pre-1968 hip scene, full of hope and creativity.
Soon, he would discover the world of the small press and claim it as
his own.
Because of his disconnect with the "real" world, Raindog (as he became known
in the mid-nineties whilst living in San Pedro, California…it's a Tom Waits
reference, another inspiration to RD), became adept as a Do It Yourselfer.
Since he had no formal education, he made it up as he went along. This kept
him out of trouble, mostly, but it also made him open to finding creative
solutions to the problems that would crop up. For this reason, he has not had
an extensive amount of his work published by others, except in magazines and
ezines. He self-publishes his work because he can control the outcome.
Of his 15 or so chapbooks, only two, RoadKill (12 Gauge Press, 2002)
and Pedro Blue (Vinegar Hill Press, 1996) were published by someone else
(in both cases the results were less than satisfactory).
In late 1995, after an involvement with an ill-planned poetry festival,
Raindog began publishing the Lummox Journal on a monthly basis. He also
began publishing a poetry chapbook series called the Little Red Books
(LRB for short). The Lummox Journal lasted for eleven years. He's still
publishing the LRB series, as well as an on-line poetry zine called
Dufus. In addition he has also published The Wren Notebook by Rick
Smith (2000), Last Call: The Legacy of Charles Bukowski (2004, a 41
contributor anthology which was voted Best Poetry Anthology of 2005 by
Muses Review), The San Pedro Poems by RD Armstrong (2002), The Manx
Tales, micro-fiction, by RD Armstrong (1999), GRIT, the Journal of
Abrasive Literature edited by RD Armstrong (2000) and POPE LINKED TO
SATANIC COMMIES - a pamphlet - by Raindog (1995).
He has been published in nearly 100 magazines and anthologies
including Drinking With Bukowski (Thunder's Mouth Press, 2000);
Poesy Magazine (several different issues);
An Eye for an Eye - poets on 9-11 (Regent Press, 2002); ArtLife Vol.
20 #1 & #3 (2000) and The Louisiana Review (2001). His work has also
been published on-line at various websites including Abalone Moon;
The Ragged Edge; Sacramento Poetry Art and Music; Thunder Sandwich;
St. Vitus Dance; Yoni (Australia); The 365 Project; Big City Lit;
Poetic Diversity; Juice online, and The Hold.
Walking SlowRD(
Raindog) ArmstrongIt’s as if my fate is
Catching up with me
As if my shuffling
Along life’s dusty hallways
Could bring me
Back to those turnoffs
I have missed
I see a child’s face
And I wonder how I
Managed to miss
That offramp
I see a friend who is
Already a grandma and
Still younger than I
And I think:
Christ
I lived through the fucking
Free love
Disco fever
Safe sex
Days
And I miraculously
Dodged the bullet
Every time
Yet many of my friends
Did not
But taking one for the team
Or whatever the theme-du-jour
Of the day was
I’m the one who lives on
Without a family
Who is the best known
Loner in town
The one who now
Must walk slow
As if walking slow
Would let all my bad
Decisions catch up with me
And let me make the better
Choices this time around
So I could have a happier life
And not be such a drain
On the world and my fellow
Creatures
I’m walking slow
As if there’s any
Real choice
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