Earlier versions of some of these poems have appeared in the magazines: SUBterrain, CB, Wag, Rampike, NARC, Existere, Excalibur, West Coast Line, Geist, Border/Lines, Sh'Wipe, Industrial Sabotage, and Algoma Ink; in the serif of notttingham chapbooks Like Bozo's Nose or Time Itself, Big Red Baby, A Flapping Red Flag, Nails, Family Relations Are So Complicated, Mike Harris Made Me Eat My Dog & Other Strange Fish, Scar, The Iridescent Phlegm of Bagpipers Glorious with Flu, The Stars Are a Pale Pox on the Sky's Dark Chicken; and in the anthology Ten Tandem (Gesture Press). Some of these poems also appear in my CSIS and CIA files. I deny all involvement in those poems.

Jain Jing Loks and Mouth were inspired by collaborations with Gil Adamson. Yodeler, Passenger, Bystander, Waiter, Receptionist, Thinker, and Whistler were inspired by McGuire Toys Go Fish Cards and from a line stolen from my son Ryan. Most of the section titles were suggested by Victor Coleman, who had many other bright editorial ideas. Thanks.

The Long Distance Philosophy is for Robert Majkut who has given or lent me countless philosophies (many with shiny lights) which he just happened find on sale cheap in Toronto, or else were hand-me-downs from his brother.

I'd like to thank my parents for encouraging me to divide when I was but a blastocyst and didn't think I could, and my wife, Beth for taking it from there.

text, images, & music © copyright Gary Barwin, 1998

web design by damian lopes

ISBN 1-55245-966-7

Coach House Books, 1998