Through a blend of honest poetry and prose vignettes, Michael Lally offers intimate glimpses into his personal narrative, reflecting on his desire to transition from actor to director of his own life. The work presents a raw and unfiltered collection, showcasing the most authentic moments of his experiences.
The collected works of a poet who bridges the rhythms and message of the beats, the disarming frankness of the New York School, and the fierce temerity of activist authors throughout the ages. From a '60s-era verse letter to John Coltrane to a 2017 examination of Life After Trump, Another Way to Play collects more than a half century of engaged, accessible, and deeply felt poetry from a writer both iconoclastic and embedded in the American tradition. In the vein of William Carlos Williams and Frank O'Hara, Lally eschews formality in favor of a colloquial idiom that pops straight from the page into the reader's synapses. This is the definitive collection of verse from a poet who has been around the world and back again: verse from the streets, from the the political arena, from Hollywood, from the depths of the underground, and from everywhere in between. Lally is not a poet of any one school or style, but a poet of his own inner promptings; whether casual, impassioned, or ironic, his words are unmistakably his own. Here is a poet who can hold two opposed ideas in mind simultaneously, and fuse them, with pathos and humor, into his own idiosyncratic verbal art. As Lally himself writes: "I suffered, I starved, and so did my kids, / I did what I did for poetry I thought /and I never sold out, and even when I did / nobody bought."
This is an account of the Madhyamika (Middle Way) school of Buddhism, a method of mediation and enlightenment that was developed by the great Indian teacher Nagarjuna. In a collaboration between the Frenchwoman Alexandra David-Neel and her friend, the Tibetan lama Aphur Yongden, these teaching are presented clearly and elegantly, intended for the layman who seeks a way to practice and experience the realization of oneness with all existence. Alexandra David-Neel was born in 1868 in Paris. In her youth she wrote an incendiary anarchist treatise and was an acclaimed opera singer; then she decided to devote her life to exploration and the study of world religions, including Buddhist philosophy. She traveled extensively to in Central Asia and the Far East, where she learned a number of Asian languages, including Tibetan. In 1914, she met Lama Yongden, who became her adopted son, teacher, and companion. In 1923, at the age of fifty-five, she disguised herself as a pilgrim and journeyed to Tibet, where she was the first European woman to enter Lhasa, which was closed to foreigners at the time. In her late seventies, she settled in the south of France, where she lived until her death at 101 in 1969.
The collection features autobiographical poetry and prose that explores the author's journey from a challenging Irish Catholic upbringing in Newark to a life marked by political activism, artistic struggles in New York, and fleeting Hollywood fame. Lally reflects on his past with raw honesty, addressing themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. As he revisits his roots in South Orange, he candidly examines the emotional scars and missed opportunities that have shaped his identity, ultimately seeking truth and acceptance in his life's narrative.
Exploring the untold love story behind the legendary figure, this narrative reimagines Helen of Troy's role in the Trojan War, challenging her portrayal as a mere instigator of destruction. The book delves into her complex character, shedding light on her motivations and experiences, while questioning the traditional labels of whore and adulteress. It offers a fresh perspective on a historical figure often misunderstood, inviting readers to reconsider the true nature of love and sacrifice amidst the backdrop of war.
The autobiography unfolds through a series of sonnets, reflecting Michael Lally's rich literary journey and achievements. It highlights his accolades, including the NYC 92nd St. Y Poetry Center's Discovery Award and multiple NEA fellowships, amidst controversy surrounding his work. Lally's contributions extend beyond poetry; he has written for notable publications and acted in film and television. His blog, Lally's Alley, showcases his insights on poetry, politics, and the arts, offering a multifaceted view of his creative life.