Trump Sonnets, Volume 4 is officially in the world!
Trump Sonnets, Volume 4, The Shrunken Soul Edition is finished and now out from Ridgeway Press. Thanks to all of you who made this late October to early December 2019 Kickstarter campaign a success. Read about it right here! Copies are in Ken Waldman's hands, and as of
mid-March 2020 are also with the publisher, and with the distributor.
This new collection begins at midnight on an unnamed day and goes to the following midnight. 25 poems, all on the hour, are in Donald Trump's voice, and all are titled "Donald Trump: His Shrunken Soul." The other 50? At random times throughout the day, they're in the voices of those in his orbit. So many shrunken souls!
Below, three poems from this new volume. And below them, the front and back covers.
Lindsay Graham: 4:46 a.m.
Granted, he's going to go his own way.
But you have to understand, his instincts
are unparalleled. Who knows how he thinks,
but he's got his own system. Every day
is different, mind you. So we have to stay
on our toes. Sometimes it sure as hell stinks,
the uncertainty. But then in a wink
he's back on cue. Yes, he can do or say
the most outlandish things and get away
with it. That's a big part of his great charm.
Critics think at some point he'll have to pay,
but he's not built like that. There's never harm
to him. But the rest of us must watch our
every step, and our backs. That's his power.
Vladimir Putin: 3:53 p.m.
He's the best friend Russia has ever had.
I love my meetings with the man. He's like
putty, a play thing to mold as I like.
At first sight I could tell he was quite mad,
like a very strange puzzle. Good and bad
mean nothing to him. Such a weak psyche--
it's all his name and money. How he likes
to be complimented. You'd think it's sad
how easily he's manipulated.
We think he's the truest American
we've ever met. He's so dedicated
to himself. I tell him I'm a big fan
of his many accomplishments. He thinks
I'm his friend. What's in the soda he drinks?
Donald Trump: His Shrunken Soul
8 p.m., and this is my shrunken soul.
I've done such important work with migrants,
whose arrival I've so halted. I can't
believe I haven't yet won the Nobel
Prize. I've accomplished these incredible
things that no one else could have. A giant
triumph, too, with North Korea. I want
peace there and in the Middle East. Noble
undertakings. And Venezuela
is on my list. So much to do to fix
the world's problems. I must be made supreme
president. No more from Guatemala.
All those illegal migrants make me sick.
They don't follow rules. You know what I mean.
published 2020 by Ridgeway Press, Roseville MI, distributed by Small Press Distribution, Berkeley CA
TRUMP SONNETS, VOLUME 3 IS ALSO OUT!
After Trump Sonnets, Volume 1 and Trump Sonnets, Volume 2, Ken Waldman has written Trump Sonnets, Volume 3. This
one is subtitled The International Edition. A crowdfunding campaign began May 15, 2018 and continued through July 4.
Funding met the target. Not only was the new book published in a timely way, but the funding allowed this dedicated
www.trumpsonnets.com website to get up and running.
Ridgeway Press delivered on its January 2019 publication date, which meant that books were manufactured and sent for
review by September, 2018. They arrived in time for a special Austin show at the Long Center. Here's a preview article.
Maybe you want Ken Waldman to come to your community to do a solo show that features this material. You know what
else? He can even come to your house (read this for more information about that kind of show). Ken Waldman can also
come to do a show accompanied by a friend or two. How to make this happen? Contact Ken Waldman for an explanation.
More about this book? Check out the Kickstarter link (here's the full description, and here are all the updates). Immediately
below, responses from three backers who supported the project, and in late August 2018 received their books. They are
among this new book's earliest readers. Further below, you'll find the book's cover and a few poems. Further below, news
about Trump Sonnets, Volume 4, published in early 2020.
"I started with the first book – so very true and sad at the same time. . . . You are a great talent."
"I am glad that your work is out there, and I hope that more and more people discover it and enjoy it like I have."
"I whipped through your Trump Sonnets . . . It was tons of fun to read, while simultaneously pissing me off all over again.
Will talk up your books here in the northeast."
Ken Waldman thanks you all for paying attention to this project! (These are historic times; this series of books look to be timeless.)
Two poems from Volume 3
Another poem from Volume 3