GAM as an Experiment in Gift Exchange

Nearly 14 years ago to the day I talked to students at SUNY Buffalo about my poetry mag GAM. I expanded those ideas in an essay for publication in the first issue of Wild Orchids (Melville issue), edited by Robert Dewhurst and Sean Reynolds - check out WO here. Still as true more true ever true: “but the crew of the Pequod doesn’t actually have a proper gam. Ahab’s obsession limits the exchange of information to “Have ye seen the white whale?” #anticapitalism #mutualaid

GAM AS AN EXPERIMENT IN GIFT EXCHANGE (The following talk was given to a small group of students at Buffalo State in 2007.) "GAM. Noun-A social meeting of two (or more) Whale-ships, generally on a cruising-ground; when, after exchanging hails, they exchange visits by boats' crews: the two captains remaining for a time, on board of one ship, and the two chief mates on the other."

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