“Among These Weeds” by David (Buddha 309) Hargarten, Exact Change Press, 2009.

This is a wonderful debut poetry collection by native Chicagoan Buddha 309 also known as David Hargarten.  Buddha has been hosting the “Waiting 4 The Bus” reading series at Jak’s Tap in the West Loop for a couple of years and has been writing for even longer.  His poetry is complemented by occasional photographs and drawings.  Buddha speaks directly from the heart; his words tell of longings, desperation, loneliness and frustration.  The title piece, which concludes the book, is about having a sense of place in a world obsessed with celebrity and glamour: “This ain’t for the tabloids/There are no pretty faces/Only dominating Asphalt/And paper-thin shoes………” The poem is a confession of sorts, suggesting that he does not claim to be anyone or anything more than he is.  Also included are “Birdman Eulogy”, inspired by the death of the Pigeon Man who held court on the southwest corner of Lawrence and Western Avenue—“The lord of oil slick neck ties/Keeper of the promised land/all the pigeons hang their heads”, a poem simply called “Weeds”, about a man who sees beauty in the simplest of flowers and plants; and “Swiss Movement” which concerns itself with the problem of living in the past (and whether the future is better to contemplate).  “Peripheral” takes it even further into the “Dizzy eyed gazes/Standing outside ourselves……”.  His “Public Service Announcement” offers us a glimpse into the netherworld of a meth junkie, and the all-too-familiar defense mechanisms come gleefully trotting out, in elegant format, in “This is Not a Love Poem.”  “Among These Weeds” is a must-have for serious poetry readers.  I can’t wait to find out what Buddha will come up with next.                                  --Bob Rashkow, Chicago poet