With Charles Bernstein, Andrews cofounded the seminal journal L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E
. His book I Don't Have Any Paper, So Shut Up (or, Social Romanticism)
, some of which first appeared in the mid-1980s, is a major poetic text of the late 20th century. This book pushes Andrews's synthetically disjointed ("Foreground blur-flowerable keyhole/ Crooner insect nosegay scam"), multiply ironic sensibility through a variety of forms over 21 pieces. Some recall Tizzy Boost
(1993) in their open field juxtapositions ("half-blown to adulterate/ autocracy's body conjointly bed your deeds"), others contain unexpected shocks of tenderness: "only the impossible is intimate enough." The two last works make up half the book: the 25-part "Reverb Sallies," written for Andrews's partner and frequent collaborator, dancer and choreographer Sallie Silvers ("heart loge/ measuring distance out in time spoons") and "Definition," a striking tour de force: "Abandonment
—publicity/ Air
—as nausea's competitor/ America
—a Beautician/ Arms
—as clichés/ Atom
—bullethole." Andrews continues to make poetry uncomfortable and beautiful. (Sept.)
