For a brief instance I almost convinced myself I had reason to live. But even during that flare up I didn’t really, I wanted to. I did. I did. I dreamed. I hoped. I prayed. I am only reminded again that I don’t haven’t and won’t.
Author: Franklyn Monk
Kitchen Sync
Introduction
So, I mentioned it in passing, but haven't written about the poetry reading.
On March 25, I performed at the Kitchen Sync open mic in Denton, TX. The poets in attendance were very welcoming, kind, and talented. I had a blast, and I was on fire.
I'm planning on going back this month, but I'm in Oklahoma City…yeah, weird. Even weirder, I got cast in a couple small bit roles in a community theatre production of The Laramie Project. I'm very excited, I've always wanted to do theatre and here I go, weee! It's a six-to-eight week obligation and so I may not be able to make it down, but I'll try, there's something special happening in Denton.
Here's an approximation of the introduction I performed (I improvised a lot). I'm not sure if it's through, but I suspect it is. I feel good about it.
Main Content
Hello, I’m Franklyn Monk
The one that disappeared a little after every defeat and
slunk down into that hole
where I turned in and around myself
and popped out the other side
The undoing unbeing before you
as convincing as I am
illusionary. I don’t exist!
Except maybe as a ball of calm in a sea of chaos
or a knot of chaos in a sea of calm.
I can’t tell.
The only thing I know with certitude
is I have a voice,
and I like to use it.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Poetry
…the greatest poetry is revealing to the reader the beauty in something that was so simple you had taken it for granted. That, I think, is the job of the poet. And so, the simplicity of the universe … if it doesn’t drive you to poetry, it drives you to bask in the majesty of the cosmos.
Oklahoma
Franklyn Monk is in Oklahoma.
Communion
Main Content
“Stop! You must curtail your bizarre behavior,”
says the man with the stick,
“You really must,” he says
adjusting his hat.
But, he’s not talking to me,
he’s talking to the creature we become—
in the stretch back to the first realm.
“Adjust behavior and commiserate elsewhere,”
says the fat man
“You really must,” he says
poking the creature’s chest.
The creature, call us Communion,
howls indignant and turns back to the wall—
string dangling from slippery hands.
“Non-compliance is unacceptable,”
shouts the rigid man,
“Unacceptable and you must stop,” he shouts
and we pay em no mind we pay em no mind.
We are disconnected from that world,
there is only blood here and glue and string—
this creation nothing else.
Endnotes
This poem was released as a
podcast on June 7, 2014.
And now a YouTube Video