Rusty String Quartet

by Raegan Butcher

Second collection of work from Crimethinc’s poet laureate. 332 (largely short) poems which run the gamut of incarceration, alienation, hope, despair, and all the barbs that society throws at us. The author is now out of prison, though much of this was written whille still inside. All encased in the usual lavish, beautiful CrimethInc production.

Genres: Poetry

335 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2005

About the author

Poet, novelist, singer, actor, former prisoner and now full-time recluse, Raegan Butcher lives in the Pacific Northwest with a growing collection of rescued animals.

Reviews

[J.A. Carter-Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Understated With Heart

My daughter introduced me to Raegan Butcher's poetry a few months ago. I think poetry is even more subjective than fiction, if that's possible. I need to be up front when I say that Butcher and I have corresponded—we have a mutual admiration for each other's work. That said, I can only give my personal thoughts on his poetry based on my particular penchants and tastes.

Here are my thoughts on his poetry collection, Rusty String Quartet.

First, the titles. Don't skip the titles—they are as integral to the poem as the poem itself. And this is part of the understated beauty of Butcher's work. He takes tiny, small doses of his life, his world, and doles them out with a sharp, clean sentiment. There is nothing sentimental in his prose, however. It is straight-at-you, balls-to-the-wall stark. This is what makes it so fresh and exciting—and so accessible.

Some people don't like poetry, but they love fiction. I would bet anything that these people would be fans of Butcher's poetry. Each poem is a miniature story with untold layers, and it's up to us to fill them in. Or not. An example and one of my favorites:

muse
i left you/ on my fingers & face/ all day/ it was like carrying around/ a little piece of heaven

He takes the most simple of things and creates something rich. He takes the most banal happenings, and turns them into poignant epiphanies. It feels as though we are walking with him through his life--in real time. Butcher recommends you read it in order, like a book. I agree and I disagree. I think it should be done both ways. There is, within the poems, a clear, almost linear narrative which is compelling. But to just open the book and pick one out—the poems definitely stand on their own in their complexity and poignancy.

Other times, he speaks with a voice that creates a tear in the heart:

i…say a prayer/ to my 14 tiny gods/ to look out for him/ and his mother too / because they are both/more beautiful/ and more deserving/ than i will ever be.

I'll never forget the poem that captured me and made me a Raegan Butcher fan for life.

my occupation
when people ask me/ what i do/ i tell them/ i read poetry/ to the deaf/ and paint pictures/for the blind

This poem captures the heart and soul and isolation of being an artist. It resonated thoroughly for me.

Every so often Butcher stumbles on a cliché, but I get that, too. Sometimes it's hard to tell when something feels "right" because it's "right" or because it's familiar. But he doesn't fall into the trap often. Mostly he zings you with lines like: all i can do/is test/the odds and/play with the pain. And then lines that zing in a different way, because they are so understated: sometimes i find it/very hard/to be a/ man.

Raegan Butcher's poetry speaks to the artist's soul. There are many out there who love poetry who would not like his poems. I humbly submit, they are not artists. And if they are, they are into a type of art that is encased in pretensions and/or academia. No, Butcher's writing is not for them. It is not proper, it is not polite, it is not metered and rhymed, it isn't pretentious and filled with purple prose.

It is for people like me: people who crave heart and depth and complexity within the simple—he has created in me what Nabokov so elegantly described: "a sob in the spine of the writer-artist." And that's no small thing.

[Kent Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard book to find and I'm always irritated by the inability to do 4.5 stars. The poetry of Butcher does what more of our poetry should do, illuminate real life in clear language. It is unfortunate that "poetry" is what this genre has come to be called. This isn't fiction, non-fiction or even memoir, but present sense impressions of a real, human experience. And this is what we need -- more humanity with all of its exquisite pain and pleasure.

[icedcheddar · Rating 5 out of 5]

a continuation of Butcher's masterful poetry. this time its post-jail. just as entertaining & provocative as the first.

people who have been to jail have the special gift of what i call "real talk."

hot shit. pick it up.

[Phil Volatile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything everyone has been saying about Butcher's writing is true. I've yet to see a negative review about any of his works. I was amazed at how well he can express his point, and he does it so well with so few words. His writing is gritty, raw, straightforward and has an ongoing undertone of sadness.

Reading through some of those poems, I know they must have been hard to write. He talks about his childhood, a love he had, (further explaining why he went to prison in the first place), and other various events or things going on in his life.

He bears his heart and soul in this collection. Raegan seems so frustrated with things in this collection, but has come to accept some things the way they are. He always seems to have some type of an outlook on life that there is something better; I think or would like to think that he's still hopeful.

I take this book with me when I go places so that I'm able to read a poem every now and again, though I've already read the book. I also take it with me to share his work with others. It's unfortunate that his book is out of print, but it's fortunate that I was able to purchase a copy direct from him on Amazon (and got it autographed). I look forward to more of his work, hopefully in the nearby future.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this follow up to Stone Hotel!

This hefty book of poetry took me through an array of emotions. Even as a young woman, I felt I could relate to most of the content here. Raegan catches the deep despair and purposelessness many of us feel, making comments on what "freedom" means, both inside and outside prison.

The book contains glimpses into new, fleeting and failed relationships, the drudgery of a typical working life, and although disjointed, the end offers autobiographical ramblings and reflections on childhood, individuals positive and negative influences in his life, and the strong disconnect between he and his family members.

Rusty String Quartet shows his range of styles and experimentations in poetry. Some ar short and sweet, others long winded, almost gasping for a moment of rest. Most are purely reflective and powerful.

Pick this up, you won't be disappointed!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Bukowski and Fante and Raegan's writing is eloquently amongst the realms of such great writers .. In my opinion he’s EVEN better!!.. Why is Raegan Butcher not more well known?!!! ...his words ebb and flow thick and sweet as syrup. I have read both Stone Hotel and Rusty String Quartet. I find his writing to be enchanting, heart felt, and VERY funny at times !!!. The proof of his great work is all over these pages. I can't wait for my copy of his next book!!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me too long to acquire this book. This is everything I'd hoped for in a successor to Stone Hotel. The writing is as sharp as ever, and the flow of these poems from front cover to back is done extremely well. There are poems about leaving prison and adapting, poems about women, poems about longing for past relationships, missed time, loneliness, and lastly a few poems that feel a bit disjointed from the rest, but read like an epilogue. An excellent volume of work, I look forward to more.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is by my friend Butch. He is a fantastic poet. I think so highly of his work.

This book is much, much longer than Stone Hotel, but some of the poems included here are very short.

I should reread this one. I read it when I first got it, but it probably deserves another look.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hungry
Men disappoint me, she said,
casually tossing
the dried up husk
of one behind her
it was over her left shoulder,
i believe.
- Raegan Butcher

[Mr. Pe Mr. Pe]

this is a great book and i recommend it to everyone

[Rupert Dreyfus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intense collection of poetry; this time its main focus is trying to integrate with society having served a long prison sentence (there is a fantastic poem actually explaining how Butcher ended up in prison).

Butcher isn't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and frequently writes about suicidal urges and his own isolation (in War with Everything he writes: "it's a hostile universe, cold and implacable, malignant, inscrutable"). However, there are poems which balance this out which tackle holding down shitty jobs. Some of these had me in hysterics, chiefly because I could relate to the sentiments.

I'd recommend this to pretty much everyone into poetry of the raw and honest variety because there's much to ponder here.

I think I'm all out of Butcher poetry so I'll wait patiently for some more to show up. Meantime I'll be checking more on offer from this rare talent.

[Beauregard Shagnasty · Rating 3 out of 5]

More good stuff, if a bit uneven.Few books have the concise narrative drive of Stone Hotel. This one is more broad and sweeping, encompassing more years of the author's life. Most of the poems are very short.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

11-12. This book is poetry written by prisoners and shines light on america's largest plantation, prison. The language can be inappropriate, so any instructor would have to use caution. This book would fit in perfectly with "the school to prison pipeline" or at risk students.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

of interest because crimethinc published it, but not that edifying.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars*

[danadickerson Dickerson · Rating 1 out of 5]

charlie manson for the tween tweaker in yer life.