Poetic noir: Larry Jaffe discusses his poetic ode to writer Raymond Chandler

L.A. bluesman: Poet Larry Jaffe

By Jarret Keene

Larry Jaffe is the International Readings Coordinator for the United Nations Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry program, co-founder of Poets for Peace/United Poets Coalition and remains the poet-in-residence/director of Writer's Voice for the Los Angeles Downtown YMCA. Jaffe is also the editor of Poetix and writes a column for about.com called "Museletter." He's been the resident poet/host at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage and currently produces the popular Buddha Jam Poetry Series at the Elixir Café.  

Jaffe's work can be found in numerous publications and anthologies , including 100 Poets Against the War, Web Del Sol and The Book of Hope. Jaffe's books include Jewish Soulfood, Unprotected Poetry and his poetic noir, L.A. Rhapsody. Next year, Salmon Publishing in Ireland will publish his forthcoming book, Lying Half-Naked in the Doorway.

CityLife had the chance to conduct a recent phone interview with Jaffe, who is slated to read at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Nov. 25.

CityLife: Tell us about your work with the United Nations.

Larry Jaffe: The United Nations Dialogue among Civilization through Poetry project puts poetry onto this planet in a united purpose of using our art to create peace in a world that has gone awry with violence. Throughout the world, the week of World Poetry Day [March 22], hundreds and hundreds of readings will be taking place. Thousands and thousands of poets putting their collective shoulders to the wheel to not just discuss peace or talk about peace but with the power of poetry emanating peace. At the very least, we create peace for a few hours, at the best perhaps some politician will hear this and call off the dogs - perhaps a general's warrior heart will be filled with compassion. This is the power of poetry, and this is the power of "new poetry." We can reach millions through the Internet in addition to our readings. You can find out more at www.dialoguepoetry.org. 

CL: What can you tell us about your forthcoming collection Lying Half-Naked in the Doorway?

LJ: It is a collection of poems written over several years that tells a very intimate story from naivety to jadedness to finding some inner peace within myself. It goes from every part of the spectrum from sensual to a worldly view. t should be out early next year. In some ways it is a life's work. The publisher is Salmon Press in Ireland (http://salmonpoetry.com).

CL: Raymond Chandler's biography is so much more interesting than, say, Dashiel Hammet's, mainly because of the way Chandler stood up to J. Edgar Hoover, don't you think?

LJ: Well, I dig both Chandler and Hammet. I don't know that I wish to champion either. I just think Chandler was a poet's writer. His words pack such impact that they send you reeling. I love that noir feeling of streets being mean. Chandler brought Los Angeles to life in a way that very few artists were or are able to do. He had such a skill for bringing his characters and dialogue into your head, and they literally explode with images of this City of Angels.

CL: Does having been born in New York give you a certain amount of objectivity in writing about L.A. that other L.A.-born poets lack?

LJ: Oh, I don't know. I have at this point lived in L.A. longer than New York. Coming from the Bronx does give you a kind of edge, you know. You just look at things differently. Perhaps you don't get caught up in all that tinsel and glamour stuff. But that ain't my scene anyway. I did do an infomercial once, though.

CL: In the title poem, "Los Angeles Rhapsody," you use a lot of words of "empty" and "hollow." How superficial or concrete is L.A. in comparison with other major American cities?

LJ: Actually, I think Los Angeles is extremely rich. The poem attempts to portray a city that has a concrete river, who ever thought of such a thing, what kind of imagination, what kind of civilization would cement a river. It's just almost unbelievable. It's like our lack of public transportation. Everyone and everything is converted into some kind of private highway for us to drive our vehicles. A little bit like life, where we stay locked into the flesh of bodies and do not expand beyond them. Let someone else into your universe. I'm sure I'm not answering your question, but that's what comes to mind.

 I love to walk. I love London, Paris, New York - because I can walk all over the city and spend hours doing so. But I choose to live in L.A., where I have to drive to the corner. How strange!

CL: "Velocity" is such an incredibly imagined poem. How did you arrive at this idea for this four-part poem about speed and its effect on the human mind?

LJ: "Velocity" is the only poem in the world I know of that combines bullets, rainbows, blowjobs and friendship and somehow makes them all work together and make sense. It is indeed a strange poem. The poem kind of goes from physical to a more spiritual bent and back again. I think the idea of portraying sensation (bullets and blowjobs) and a more spiritual pleasure or beauty in rainbows and friendship, is what life is all about.

CL: "Blond Woman in Dreads" is, in fact, "judgmental." But there's also truth in the conflicted, almost hypocritical, portrait you've rendered. How important is truth in poetry today?

LJ: Wow, good question. I think ultimately it is vital. But reaching an absolute truth is most difficult. Poetry should offer a different take or viewpoint. Like looking at something from the other side. A poet should see the shadows and the variances, not just black and white. Capture the actuality, the essence. Elucidate the awkwardness of mankind and make it beautiful. Ultimately, I see beauty as one of the most important things a poet can do. The poet or any artist must inject a spiritual quality into this universe ,or what use is it?

CL: "Dark Rosary" and "Ghost Watching" are great "noir poems" - their imagery is very powerful, even startling. In terms of craft, how do you go about constructing images that really "click."

LJ: I like to look at things from other sides and get to the underbelly of life - not just skim the surface. In my work, I want to bleed, laugh, cry, sweat. I will not settle for pabulum. If the reader can dig that I work hard to bring things to life, that is my ultimate pleasure. Life is not easy, but it is a gift to be appreciated. I always hated expressions of life being short. In reality, life is long, and I just don't want to be bored. 

I guess I write like a baker bakes pies. I often have the outer crust there - the first lines and the last - and then I put in the filling. I write outside in, then I hope the craft comes into play, refining and sculpting and honing down to the ultimate expression. And I feel it down to my toes that this is a poem. I am not very democratic about the process of pronouncing "poemhood" on my work. Truly, when I read it aloud and people respond is the only time I really know that it works, or when they read it and I get a letter or e-mail. Poetry is very two-way communication. It's just not always recognized as so. 

CL: Who is Steve Hodowsky and why is his painting "Lost Hills" so apt for your book?

LJ: Steven Hodowsky is a brilliant painter who in many ways paints how I wish to write. He, too, is from New York, and I found his work on the Internet, and I said to myself, "That is the cover for L.A. Rhapsody." And he was kind enough to allow me to do so.

CL: What do you think of Las Vegas as a place for poets to live and work?

LJ: Well, I love the poets in Las Vegas. They have been more than just a little kind to me. I stayed in Vegas for a couple of months a few years ago (my daughter lives there), and I was treated most kindly. I think Vegas is such a dichotomy between the Strip and Red Rock - you have a population and not all of it is gaming industry-related. Just a bunch of hardworking honest folks, and I do believe the poets there do their best to represent.

Larry Jaffe

When Nov. 25; 7 p.m.

Where Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (4550 S. Maryland Parkway)

Admission Free

Info desertpoetess@yahoo.com