Charlie Parker Meets Sir Galahad

[Lightning Rod]

A cowboy without a horse
Galahad without steed
Hell's Angel with no Harley
Speed Racer on foot

A cracked prophet high from eating bees
instead of waiting for the honey
the things we must do to ourselves
for the sake of poetry and lust

An astronaut with no capsule
no health plan, no pension and no parachute
no longer lithe and looking cute
Charlie Parker has hocked his horn

[Doreen Peri]

You use "cracked" a lot in your poems.

Just recently there was a "cracked koan" and I've seen you use it many other times. I wonder why. Then again, does it matter? Not really.

Can you eat bees? I didn't know that. Wouldn't it hurt if the stinger got stuck in your throat? Or do you eat them after they've stung you? Hmm.. there's an idea.

What do poets do for the sake of poetry?
What do lovers do for the sake of lust?

Not sure how this follows the previous lines.

I get the theme of somebody without their special something that really is part of who they are. That makes me think. I like that.

The rest of it, I don't understand.

But I'm going to try again and read it a few more times.

Whether I understand it or not doesn't really matter, though. Just like it doesn't matter whether I know why you use "cracked" a lot in your poems. Just sayin'... I'm not too good at getting poetry sometimes.

This was probably way more info than you wanted in a comment. Sorry. Just talking. I don't have anybody to talk to. LOL

[stilltrucking]

you guys crack me up

I can't remember how it goes jimboloco was either quoting or making it up

someting about turning his heart into a honey hive

I liked the bit about eating the bees.

Sounded good Clay
even I can hear it

[Lightning Rod]

doreen, I use 'cracked' or 'crack' or 'fractured' a lot in my work because those words are percussive words. They are notes more than words. And they have internal alliteration.

(and I'll always talk to you, even if we quibble...another musical word)

[stilltrucking]

Is it still hip or was it or was it ever hip to say something
is kick ass.
cause i thought it was a kick ass poem

I liked it before
you explained it clay
I guess I like it even more now.

[Doreen Peri]

OK but there are MANY more percussive words than those.

What about wacky, wacked, crackled, crackers? Oh man, I could list a million.

What about the rest of it? The other parts I didn't get?

Never mind. I know I know. "Never explain."

And as for the quibbling? Well what's new right? "These are the days of miracle and wonder. This is a long distance quibble." heh... Paul Simon paraphrased

I'm writing a poem called "Torschlusspanik"

Now there's a percussive word for ya!

(PS - ALL words are musical)

[Doreen Peri]

I liked it before
you explained it clay
I guess I like it even more now.

He didn't explain the poem. All he said was the word "cracked" and the word "fracture" are both percussive in sound and that he uses both of them sometimes because of the way they sound.

No explanation at all about the meaning of the poem.

But who cares?

It's a poem. It's not supposed to MEAN anything!

right?

Then again, if it doesn't mean anything, what's the point?

Is the audience allowed to ask what it means? Sure, why not. Does the poet have to explain? No.

And he doesn't have to apologize either. We've found that out before many times.

[Doreen Peri]

Question to the poet...

Is this type of nonsensical banter more productive than me saying, "Nice poem. I always like your poetry. Good job"?

[Lightning Rod]

thanks jack for looking inside it

doreen, you know I never explain the meaning of my poems. I might talk about technical shit but not meaning. You have to bring something with you if you wanna take something home.

[Lightning Rod]

Question to the poet...

Is this type of nonsensical banter more productive than me saying, "Nice poem. I always like your poetry. Good job"?

I thought you said that you wanted someone to banter with (above)

and what is the purpose of a discussion board if not to discuss?

'nice poem' is not discussion

[Doreen Peri]

doreen, you know I never explain the meaning of my poems. I might talk about technical shit but not meaning. You have to bring something with you if you wanna take something home.

OK good. Thanks for letting me know.

I didn't like it because I didn't understand it.

Oh well.



Nice job, tho!

[Doreen Peri]

Question to the poet...

Is this type of nonsensical banter more productive than me saying, "Nice poem. I always like your poetry. Good job"?

I thought you said that you wanted someone to banter with (above)

and what is the purpose of a discussion board if not to discuss?

'nice poem' is not discussion

Exactly. And you just killed the discussion by telling me you didn't want to talk about the poem.

I mean, why can't we talk about the meanings in the poem? Why not?

If there's nothing to talk about, then there's nothing to talk about.

Nice poem.



....

hey babe... just messing with ya trying to have a good time... forgive me?

[stilltrucking]

I

He (Clay) must have know that it was a home run.

I learn from your questions Doreen.
Clay said:

I use 'cracked' or 'crack' or 'fractured' a lot in my work because those words are percussive words. They are notes more than words. And they have internal alliteration.

I have no idea what he means by internal illiteration but I can say oh yeah it is percusive.

But you know heard that, even if I could not label. So I suppose you are right it was no explanation, where is that guy Wittgenstein when we need him to explain what an explanation is.

And I could go for a swiss cheese and rye
shit I should not have said that
now I will have to explain what swiss cheese and rye sandwhiches go to do with poetry.

poetry is moldy rye
ergot
poetry is a trip for me.
mostly ego
but sometimes more

done

[stilltrucking]

nice banter

[Lightning Rod]

Question to the poet...

Is this type of nonsensical banter more productive than me saying, "Nice poem. I always like your poetry. Good job"?

I thought you said that you wanted someone to banter with (above)

and what is the purpose of a discussion board if not to discuss?

'nice poem' is not discussion

Exactly. And you just killed the discussion by telling me you didn't want to talk about the poem.

I mean, why can't we talk about the meanings in the poem? Why not?

If there's nothing to talk about, then there's nothing to talk about.

Nice poem.



....

hey babe... just messing with ya trying to have a good time... forgive me?

I can't remember the last time you called me 'babe'

let me state the theme of this poem in layman's language

it is a lament for not having what you need to do what you need to do

I think it's universal