PAIN: The Board Game was the Third Man Books book of the month for August. Since it's the first time we've done a book of the month, we've decided for the PAIN to last a bit longer (clever pun, eh?) i.e. we're giving PAIN: The Board Game a few more weeks so we can talk more about this special book. For instance, did you know the QR codes in the book do work? Zoom in your computers on the poems included here and use a QR code reader, you're almost certain to laugh or at least chuckle at what you see. That's what's special about Starkweather's poems; they are unflinching in their acknowledgement of pain, but at the same time, will make you laugh, and maybe even make you feel better. Starkweather is often invited to teach college and high school classes about his book. I once asked him, how do you approach it, how do you teach "pain" and how pain relates to your own writing. His answer went something like this: "I just tell the students that it's okay for people to talk about their pain. It's not cliche. It's not something to be ashamed of. It's something important. And then I ask them to write about their pain, like I did in my book." Another thing about Starkweather, he means what he says. His poem "what if we call this Tenderness" (attached in this post) includes his phone number. Trying to be a mindful editor, as I proofed his book, I called Starkweather about it: "Sampson, that's your real phone number in the poem. Are you sure you want to print that in the book? It's there for the public to see." Starkweather answered, "That's exactly why it's there. If someone needs/wants to call me, they can." He's received voice messages from all over the world since Third Man Books published PAIN: The Board Game in 2015. If you'd like to call him, too, do it. He'd like it.
This post contains outtakes from the cover art and interior illustrations that weren't used for various reasons in the final book. However, the poems, including "...Tenderness," are excerpted straight from the pages of PAIN: The Board Game. I hope you enjoy. And don't forget to use a QR reader! (You can download the app for free). We're going to make the Book of the Month a regular feature and always put the selected title on sale for 20% off, just in case a few of you out there might be on the fence. Poetry isn't for everyone. It's true. But what's also true is that everyone should at least try poetry. The right poem (or poet) could be your friend for life ... they're just a phone call away.
--Chet Weise
editor, Third Man Books
To find Pain: The Board Game: https://thirdmanstore.
