Mayakovsky's Revolver

At the center of Mayakovsky's Revolver is the suicide of Matthew Dickman's older brother. "Known for poems of universality of feeling, expressive lyricism of reflection, and heartrending allure" (Major Jackson), Dickman is a powerful poet whose new collection explores how to persevere in the wake of grief. from "Mayakovsky's Revolver" I keep thinking about the way blackberries will make the mouth of an eight year old look like he's a ghost that's been shot in the face. In the dark I can see my older brother walking through the tall brush of his brain. I can see him standing in the lobby of the hotel, alone, crying along with the ice machine.