{small murders exercise & example}

OK, here's an exercise based on the poem posted in the previous entry:

write a poem using "SMALL MURDERS" as a model, in that it should
(a) use one of the five senses as a central metaphor,
(b) contain at least one surprising yet relevant historical/mythical reference,
and
(c) move around in time or geography.

here's what happened for me today while the brilliant kiddos were writing:

anniversary song

in Pittsburgh, you were blue. electric heaven spotlight
blue not Picasso's blue period not Man with a Guitar but
blue like Jimi Hendrix purple blue like bruise to run a hand
over like call on the healing there like blood at the surface
visible / resist. pull back from blue but the blue calls
not for healing but for whole / were we broken
before Pittsburgh? when you were blue and I
well, I couldn't see it then, not before not until
blue light, horns in the background, standing bass like
low strumming guitar strings under voice blue pulling
high humming and the blue spark bright bruise spreading
Chicago to Arouca blue melting we spread melting
two blue syllables under a disbelieving Pennsylvania moon.

***

if I hurry, I might be able to get in a siesta before we have to come back here to the Neutral Zone to perform. yes, it's Old Folks Night at the youth center. watch out!

we analyzed Stephen Dobyns' poem "White Pig" with them after "SMALL MURDERS" and blew their minds. THAT was a long and passionate discussion. who is the father? who is the man with the knife? is this about cultural imperialism in post-twentieth century America? is it about class conflict? why does the pig wear a blue ribbon? does that make him a prize pig?

awesome.