Screen Test for Andy Warhol

from the collection, Terrible Baubles, released October 2009. Inspired from watching a DVD of concert film of Dean and Britta's score to 13 Andy Warhol screen tests.

SCREEN TEST FOR ANDY WARHOL      (Three x Four minutes*) 1964-1966

Ann

I never blinked but a few minutes

behind my mane of chestnut hair

I started to weep.  Like Mona Lisa

breaking down and cracking the slightest

highway smile.  It was only water tearing

from my eyes.  One tear ran down my cheejk.

The screen went white and I was undone,

complete.

 

Would I be the same?

What would be my new name?

Am I christened now to be a velvetspeed freak?

Lou

I'm Lou Reed with lunar skin

and large black shades.

You can't see my eyes; they're

inside my pockets with nickels and dimes.

Laughing inside, I swig from a bottle

of Coke in three directions....almost

a commercial, more like a joke.

I already sing and shoot dope.

How did I come off?

Will the coke still pop?

What will be my sound?

What pretty tramp will stick around?

Jane

I teased my blonde hair into waves

Like ocean knives and my eyes

are flashing like flash cubes, like stars.

My prank is to brush them brush them

Oh yes, I can froth and brush, and

swish and clean them spotless

like the silver gleam of the factory scene.

No, I won't bleed for you, Mr. Warhol.

But catch the white white white

of my smile.

I only spat out once.

*After seeing Dean and Britta's 13 Most Beautiful