Here is your étude, dearest classmates.
1. Pick a random person from the class. Perhaps put the names in a hat and draw one one.
2. Now, pretend you are this person. Fix everything you know about this person firmly in your head. Set your own ego aside, and BECOME.
3. As this new person that you now ARE (who is admittedly not the person you were trying to become, but whatever) pick a subject that would be uninteresting or distasteful to you.
4. Write a poem about it using the I form.
5. Under no circumstances reveal yourself (i.e. the person the that other you chose to become)
6. Have fun.
If you break any of these rules you shall surely die a painful death.
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Agh.
ReplyDeleteCareful zoe. If you aren't having enough fun then you will die a painful death!
ReplyDeleteNow you're just making up more rules! YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME.
ReplyDeleteZoe, I suspect we could stage some sort of coup...and then we could give out the painful death sentences.
ReplyDeleteTry it. You have only an inkling of how scary I can truly be. XD
ReplyDeleteYou green things you
ReplyDeletesour things sour puss
punch drunk kiss in the mouth and
we are all swimming
swish swish
through the vat of human ideas
human brains tissue paper over swish cheese
differentiated only by language
from a dog's droll drivel
who, consequently, doesn't like green things
either
expect bitter ones
when she wants to puke things up
but I never want to puke things up
unless it's ideas
I can puke those a-plenty
all over your shoelaces
radioactive grass highlighter green
HELLO!
Do you see me down here? Pay attention.
I don't like green things.
This is sort of a trial poem. I might do more.
I don't think we should limit it to someone in the class. And I don't think I need to add that I would not want to see personal attacks. But you guys would never do that, right?
ReplyDeleteI should hope not. Personal attacks are not the point of this exercise, but rather, a reclaiming of the "I" as we discussed in class.
ReplyDeleteThis one is really hard.
ReplyDeletewell, here's a first draft.
ReplyDeleteif i come home to you sitting there one more time
and see that expression on her face again--
*britney pregnant AGAIN by her long-lost cousin
tonight on the SOUP!
-click- who will he choose?*
don't promise again
and you actually demand respect
no more of your fucking excuses
be a man
he picks up his shoes he straps them on he grabs his keys he shuffles out the door
then his shoe trips against a rock but he catches himself, managing not to fall
he takes 12 steps from the house to the driveway
he gets in his girlfriend's car and closes the door
they drive to church five over the speed limit
he gets out of the car and closes the door
he takes 53 steps to the sanctuary
A inquires after his health and B asks when he's proposing
and he fields these questions again politely with a graceful smile
he sits down and flips open his Bible to Isaiah
pages shuffle softly against fingertips
children squirm babies whimper people whisper
mouths sound too loud it's gross shut up
he turns the hymnal to number 143
muffled wails of colicky infants in the cry room
fuck off, narrator! shut the fuck up!
he puts down the hymnal and quietly extricates himself
ignoring the concerned look from his girlfriend
he hurries outside in 28 long strides
he tries to pray in the cold windy parking lot
but can't hear over himself
what the fuck is wrong with me? why is this happening?
seeing a latecomer sail into the parking lot,
he retreats to the far side of the building out of plain sight
counts the contents of his wallet
and thinks about his last trip to the liquor store.
fyi- mine isn't about someone in the class
ReplyDelete