I lied

I told you I would write twice a week about the rhymes that come up in serial romance, but I fell in love instead. Sorry

Now I am in a different kind of relationship— different from any relationship I have ever been in. There is still rhyme, but it is different— and I still want to write “RHYMING DICTIONARY”, but I think I will do it differently from what I first imagined.

In the meanwhile, two books that I wrote came out, and they kind of rhyme— but in an off way. Wave of Blood was first, and now The Rose is also here.

Yesterday the poet-perfumer Marissa Zappas started a new substack that you should subscribe to— and she interviewed me about The Rose, which was an honor and really fun.

I have my period and I’m depressed. But I’m also fine.

I just feel like whenever I put my life into the computer it comes out distorted.

No matter how hard I try to be true. So I can’t really say how I am, but I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Marissa.

For more about The Rose, please see Hannah Bonner at the Poetry Foundation, Diana Arterian at Lit Hub, and Theodore Anderson at New City Lit.

There have been many wonderful reviews of Wave of Blood, but for now I will stick to two from this week: Blake Butler here at Substack, and Audrey Wollen in Bookforum.

I have events coming up in NYC, Minneapolis, DC, Chicago, and LA and would love to see you / your friends at any of these.

I don’t think I’ll be publishing another book for a very very long time, so I am going to try and make this month very special.

Also, on IG I have kind of informally been talking with people about love. These conversations will inform the curriculum at Invisible College next year.

I feel that, although “things” feel manifestly vicious, disorienting, and painful in the world, there is a deeper shift happening that gives me a sense of great strength and resolve. I am grateful for the gifts of poetry and meditative devotion.

Love,
Ariana