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Write & Sleep
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit
down at a typewriter & bleed.”--Ernest Hemingway.
BIG BAD LOVE
Larry Brown
I’d get up,
go to work;
she didn’t,
she’d just write & sleep.
Began to get bitter,
going out at night;
sitting at her typewriter
when I left ,
when I came back;
so obsessed,
appearance went to shit,
working in her nightgown.
Started getting published,
one here, one there,
first acceptance a great event,
threw a big party;
some friends did not show up, told her
you can’t keep friends like a can of worms,
standing, cleaning up the mess--
behind closed doors
her clattering machine.
Don’t expect too much,
don’t read her stuff any more;
come home from work,
peck on her cheek,
supper in the microwave,
have a beer or two,
read a little.
Tried to stop loving her,
tried to see other women,
never did feel right;
I quit it.
Don’t know where
it came from,
what caused it,
but for damn sure
it”s part of her now.
Glenn Buttkus
Posted over at dVerse Poets MTB
Would you like to hear the author read this Blackout Poem to you?
19 comments:
What brilliant sense you made of your text. The narrative of a budding author or poet getting distanced from the one that's close.. Maybe good authors need to be self absorbed.? - would love to see a reference to what book page you picked too... Cheers
cool quote to start this off..
and heck..what a story.. it is sad when we get so absorbed with things that we don't see the people around us any more... he should just pack up a picknick and whisk her away for a bit - and the butterflies and birds and all do the rest... smiles
ha you got a whole story at of this one man...i could feel as well the seperation happening....and trying not to love her...if you figure that one out, let me know....cant keep friends like a can of worms....ha...i like that line....
I don't know what text you used for this, but whatever you used you managed to weave a story that made sense - which is not always easy in blackout poems. Smiles. Anyway it sounds as if one way or another she worked herself to success!
I enjoyed the story, or should I say the script. You could easily make a movie out of it. I have a few French actors in mind.
Ditto to Mary's comment. How the heck did you do that? : )
It made me think that writing demands a lot from the writer, and change someone so dramatically ~
I enjoyed the story Glenn ~ Have a good day ~
hmmm... i may need to consider this piece... my hubby isn't reading my stuff any more either... it came together nicely
Who would think this to be erasure poetry? It's so cohesive. And so very real. I know that, since I've begun writing, my social life has--I won't say "withered," but diminished some. Sometimes we have to make that choice. I think my husband likes the fact that I rejoice when he goes golfing. Sometimes it's hard to write with interruptions and, well, what can I say...?
Oooh I could feel the slipping away, it can be hard to see it at the time.
Yes, it is very coherent and complete, making a terrific poem.
Interesting how the writer got lost in her own world. so obsessed she lost love in the real world. I always know I am in for a treat when I visit here. Hope you are well?
What a lovely voice you have brought into this poem. His feelings are coming across gently. Which book is this?
What a melancholy story you weave here, Glenn, so real it did not feel pieced together but sadly smooth! I can relate and ache reading this one...
Nicely done, and some of the phrasing is stunning.
Is this blackout poetry? I can't tell, which is high praise, I guess. :)
If you used an entire Brown short story it must have been a bit like juggling to keep the continuity of the story so that no obvious source is being used. Nicely done.
I agree it would make an excellent short film, it was dripping with atmosphere and pathos. Excellent erasure poem!
she sounds like quite the character!
love how you illustrated the story/scenarios so well with blackout words.
really enjoyed this!
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