The Kraken in your coffee
doesn't wait for the end of your cool story,
bro.
The Hydra in your headphones
sends nine notes across the three bones
of your ear,
dear.
Please fill out this questionnaire:
1. Do ordinary objects seem to rear up? Posture? Speak?
2. How long has this been happening? Just today? All week?
3. Do you get the feeling you're in a movie? Playing a part?
4. Does the role involve broken dialogue/ bones/ heart?
Sit down.
Please.
Quit making that noise,
Stop hugging your knees.
Tell me about your earliest memory.
Does it have anything to do with me?
Do you see things that aren't there? Any idea why?
It's all right to make something up. It's all right to lie.
Good luck with the Kraken.
Who knows where it might be hiding!
Good luck, you poor loonbat.
Good luck with your writing.
_______
Find Charne Williams complete poem HERE. This poem written for Kerry's challenge at Real Toads.
I am reading your second one first--it is a perfect blend of humor--wry and dry and more than a bit black around the edges--and the quintessence of the classic state of every creative person ever--am I miserable, filled with boundless joy, or crazy? The question format works dazzlingly well, and you know I love it when you do rhyme, here giving a tinge of nursery rhyme and fairytale to go with the mythical beasts inside our heads. I found this a very hard challenge, but you have aced it in what looks like an effortless breeze of word magics.
ReplyDeleteThis is my new favorite. KILLER poetry, girlfriend.
ReplyDelete"Charne." What a delightful name.
I cannot possibly pick favorite lines/sections, as every word makes me bounce up and down in my seat. I'm downright giddy, my dear.
I think this is the most informative line: "Does it have anything to do with me?" ... Either you ARE the "Kraken," or you are the guy's mother. Or maybe both. Never, never let your mother play the part of your psychiatrist, right?! Especially if she's a little bit twisted.
"loonbat" ... I love that. :) I'll bet it's one of your favorite parts too.
I'm picturing the speaker of the poem as this girl: http://www.emmaroberts.net/
Do you watch American Horror Story? Scream Queens? Did you see We're the Millers? I highly recommend all of these.
I love her. Well, all villainesses, really. I started watching Gotham this week. This girl, "Barbara Kean" ... perfection:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewfVUk_EQTA&noredirect=1
I came over bearing gifts, by the way. I thought you might love her too: http://weheartit.com/entry/200703196
Oh, I can't help it. I pick ... this:
"The Hydra in your headphones
sends nine notes across the three bones
of your ear,
dear."
Plus, the last line. Every good writer has a monster in his/her "ear" ... and in other places.
This is my new friend:
ReplyDeletehttp://weheartit.com/entry/200701108
She says she wants you to write a poem for her.
Good luck, you poor loonbat.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your writing..... If that's what it takes I want some of it. Wonderful, crazy, energetic, sly... or maybe not. Maybe we each can only work with our own particular crazy.
_______
Oh, i so enjoyed this poem, Shay. The sensible, if scolding, voice of the therapist type only serves to highlight the realm of imagination/hallucination in which the poor protagonist has fallen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for finding inspiration in Charne's poetry.
Much enjoyed--you catch the tone quite perfectly--I am going to be careful what I say! k.
ReplyDeleteMy word. I love this one even more than the first one (you know how I love when you rhyme).
ReplyDeleteI feel like I would avoid that sofa... a truly disastrous session, but I guess that loonbats are the best writers.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh, MY. Too much to love here.
ReplyDeleteThe voice in this is terrifying...some calm psycho/analyst inviting me onto the couch. No, thank you. Whew. So well done.
It almost feels like the words of a rather peevish muse, irritated that things aren't the way they ought to be. I liked the snippy tone of it.
ReplyDeletea sense of fear, despair, and a spot of whimsy all smushed together. :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! "GoodLuck" is the great help and advice of the loon bat shrink after intimidating and turning everything on its head! Perfect. Lie and write, put it into fiction.
ReplyDeleteThere is a fine line between a lie and making things up :) Both DO take creativity. And a poet and a writer... what exactly is that blend? (I'll never tell) Where have I heard the word "Kraken" before... ? Dr. Who? Just can't figure it out. Anyway, a fantastically moody and mysterious write.
ReplyDeleteThat you can even think up such incredible QUESTIONS, never mind write a mind-blowing poem including them, is beyond me. But how I love it when you do. I hope young Charne reads this poem and learns, as you continue to teach us all, that poetry has NO LIMITS.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a Where the Wild Things Are-type tale...but for grownups. Loved it.
ReplyDeletePat
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