minority poem

I dreamed to be the one

who drug ashore the biggest fish. In

a small park though with the seats

of the swing sets missing and

with both live and artificial crack heads

getting sick. I don't think so. One

has to abandon ultimate dependence

on reason for the sake

of sudden, intuitive enlightenment.

You will need a close fitting dress,

a big booty, a silky smooth jump shot

or some third world game and

when Howard called you out of bounds

after you straddled the imaginary line,

you gave him the ball or got punched

in the throat. Metaphors are just

ways of avoiding the blistering truth

a poet once told me.

Ask any woman who practices divination;

ask any man who worships his hilltops. When

we dropped our gum as kids

we just kissed it to heaven and the

overwhelming made it clean again. That's 

why the ancients were extreme skeptics

who suspended judgment on every

proposition. (pryyhonism). If the third

finger on your right hand Is longer

you could be trusted with the documents.

You could move to a new land.

Change your name. Become holy.

Shave your head and the heads of

your background singers.

No one will ever love you unless for them

you count out loud, their many

Koan stars.

Reviews

[Mary]

Dana, I cannot pretend to understand every line of this poem, yet I cannot free it from my mind and heart. And so I will simply hold it close to me, and let it reveal itself at it's own leisure. I love the line about metaphors being a poet's way of truth avoidance (too often true, I'm afraid.) What I do know is this poem is amazing, and speaks to me and so I will put it in my library, and read it often. Seriously Amazing!

[h d e rushin]

my dearest Mary. I have poems in my library that I don't dare to try to understand. But they are there and I am here and nothing about they or I is artificial.. thanks for those kind words my fiend. dana

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

Man, this is definitely a piece that has to be read multiple times... haven't read such cerebral writing in a very long time. I read the struggle of trying to find success outside the rigid perceptions of others... I plan to read revisit this (even after reading it 3x lol), to see what other meanings I'm not catching. You were in a special place writing this! One to grow on... Excellent work.

[h d e rushin]

thank you so much love for those kind words..and insightful review...much appreciated....dana

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

It was definitely a pleasure.

[Robert Trakofler]

When you throw a set of lines down I must always be at the ready, the things you speak of always have hidden treasures within. As my brain buzzes the superficial authenticity of understandings adopted by the masses in the name of "hey I'm this!" making instant masters out of apprentices the adoption of belief without critical thought and reflection has always been one of my biggest "triggers" but at the same time I do abhor the constant deconstructionist as well. Some truths just are irrefutable with a minimal amount of research and discrimination to be attained yet many don't try. This poem is a treatise to transcendental thought:) that's what bunny read and enjoyed I might add

[h d e rushin]

thank you love. Someone with the flu hugged me at the company picnic this past Sunday afternoon and this is the first time looking at a computer screen doesn't hurt....lol..Aren't you surprised, like I am, at how whole states can be ruled by promises? (Chinese investment in West Virginia) But when your hungry you grab at whatever strokes sound plausible even when those strokes are rough and sweeping. That's why poetry is as close to truth as anything else./ Your mind is so beautiful.....dana

[Robert Trakofler]

well that just made my morning... got a gig tonight and got to get working but that line will give me an extra bit of pep in my step:)

[kentuck14]

Dana,
A very cryptic poem . . . at least for this guy who does not live as a minority. Yet, I do recognize truth in these lines. Again . . . great images and a solid rhythm. There is also great wit in this too . . . shaving the heads of your background singers!!! Wanna see that sometime! Dropping your gum? no problem!!!
T

[h d e rushin]

thanks to you I keep doing this poetry thing. I only wish I could get better at it..love...dana

[Robert Trakofler]

Here I was just hoping I could be as good as you

[kentuck14]

Dana,
You get better by reading lots of poetry . . . writing lots of poetry . . . reading a lot more poetry . . . one gets influenced by what they read . . . keep what you want . . . throw away what you don't. You find your voice. This has already started to happen . . . you speak from the Black experience . . . your images and stories are yours. Read the Black poets for their viewpoints and experiences. A question you should ask: Who do you want to speak to? What is your own witness? What do you want to say?!
Read the prose work of poets as they speak about the art and craft of poetry. This can help make you think about your own thoughts and feelings about poetry. Read the history of poets and poetry.

By now I'm sure all this sounds like blah, blah, blah. You have talent and a strong viewpoint. Keep at it . . . let things develop . . . it actually starts within you. Be encouraged . . . no one writes the perfect poem.
T

[kentuck14]

Oh, and very important . . . revise, revise, revise until you get what you want to say.

[h d e rushin]

thanks my friend....You know how sometimes you get caught between elocution and the pruning tool? lol.
perhaps I think too much for poetry? Jewels I should keep close to my reasoning....thanks dana

[emmajoy]

' No one will ever love you unless for them - you count out loud, their many - Koan stars. ' Believe that and you might live to see the moon turn into an eternal rainbow - able to cure the tides ever fidgeting! '

Seems thought plus excess reality is your theme of the day. A rush of exampled goings-on, feeling and thoughts both casual and profound. No flowers to caress nor lighteness of pucold fire punctuation - merely the world as YOU see it, feel it and anything else that comes crawling into sight is welcome til it insists on a blossom of benefice rather than a full blown flower that makes you feel something that very moment! I can't think mataphorically, suns don't have peel and pith, any more than the sun drips sticky juice on tshirts. Okay so it's poetry but - who said so? '

Your writing makes me think, rightly or mistakenly.

[h d e rushin]

your mind is fantastic. I would love to sit next to you and have you read a poem to me. thanks as always....love dana.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow, something to think about, dana....are metaphors just ways of avoiding the truth...?

that just may be...and if so...i am really guilty of avoiding the truth....maybe i just live in an imaginary world because i don't like the real one.
maybe i will shave my head...and hire some background singers...i just have to write some songs first, ones without metaphors.
thank you for your writes...i am always intrigued and pushed to the limits of expansive thought.
j.

[h d e rushin]

I tried song writing...I wasn't emotional enough. I need a symbolic, cry song. Those always seem to go over well..anyways..thanks brother....dana