I've tinkered with my poem if (from two posts back) and added the tail below to it. Harvest Literary Magazinehas asked me to perform at their edition 3 launch this coming Wednesday night (though I'm not published in the magazine) and this poem will be born for the first time there on stage in amongst several other of my toddlers. It's the shortest write-perform gestation period I've had yet, so it should be interesting to see how things go. If you're in Melbourne, head in to Eurotrash Bar on Wednesday night and watch the chaos. Full details here.
if caliban & notorious big O
thello had ruled the town
they woulda taught that
sour shrew to break it down
in keppah pantalouns / from
two households / both alike
in brown / in some slum ghetto
where we lay the scene
& it's a rewrite / but
gentlemen / i dream
caliban woulda fingered
the merchant's bling
soweto style / with a
35 to the old man's chin
he woulda drove by goneril's
& hooked up cordelia / as
his bootielicious queen /&
king othello / he
woulda smiled / from the
royal sidelines / thinking
man / i'd give my throne
for all that hipness
to be mine / cz if
caliban had left the island
he woulda / sold ophelia hip-hop
mercutio woulda busted a cap
ulet in juliet’s hood / like
a plague on both your house—
music wd be the food of revolution
if caliban had anything to
say or do about it
Hello Maxine, I didn't know any other way to ask you so I am doing it here. I NEED HELP! I poet friend of mine said I cuss to much in my writings and therefore I wouldn't be taken seriously. I did a post on cussing/cursing. The central point of my post is rather or not a person can separate themselves from their craft. Christains and others have joined the discussion. I thought of you. I need the voice of another poet. If you have time ....HELP!
ReplyDeleteThe voice is still wondrous and the pome a bit denser and more overtly literary. Soweto style, beautiful. And performing it in a Eurotrash Bar, Perfect!
ReplyDeleteI like this extension. It gives more time to digest the poem and your stuff always works well with refrains. Looking forward to hearing/seeing it. When are you going to start podcasting?
ReplyDeleteBrava! Brava! Brava!
ReplyDeleteExcelent poetry you made, a mix betwee trash and refine literary words. You made me think also about how time passes, places change but things never change. Relationships are exactely the same as they where in shakespeare's time in his native town.
ReplyDeleteYes it resonates, well done Maxine!
ReplyDeletewish I'd said more to you tonight rather than just holding my two thumbs up! Not very eloquent at all. I loved Obama and this new one too. Glad you had fun on Textual Fantasies last Sat -- we really enjoyed having you.
ReplyDeleteThanks all for your support, as always.
ReplyDeleteCarey - What the fuck do people have against goddamn cursing these days? Will come on over tomorrow: it's late & I've been out 'slamming'.
Estelle - Thumbs up are good. It was a great crowd. Very enthusiastic and I swear no-one moved while I was on stage. I thought they all might have been Narnia-frozen or something. Very cool.
I don't think this blog does your poems justice. I was at the Harvest launch and came looking for recordings or something. Can you direct me to any?
ReplyDeleteHey Anon, there are some over in the archives of the Overland site at overland.org.au or at the 'Wordplay' site there is a full set. Podcasting should get happening on this blog by oooh...the end of the year. What can I say, I'm a slack bastard.
ReplyDeleteThis poem just sings to the English major in me. I love the language and the flow. Fantastic! Thanks for stopping in Sis.
ReplyDeleteHey babygirl, I read it real slow, like an east coast '80's joint, and it all hung together tight.
ReplyDelete"mercutio woulda busted a cap
ulet in juliet’s hood / like
a plague on both your house—
music wd..."
Loved it!x
It's a rewrite...but such is life if you believe. You're very creative and talented...and you have the uncanny ability to re-write your life to what you want it to be and how you believe you deserve it to be! Keep your beliefs aligned with your heart my spirited daughter of truths! I've truely enjoyed your energy tonight!
ReplyDeletethe way this keeps expanding, its starting to feel like a major work, and has the gravity and feel of something that will continue to evolve. and fuck yeah! swearing is cool. all the cool kids do it.
ReplyDeleteThankyou all.
ReplyDeleteMantecanaut: I actually roll this one off really fast, almost like a rap, but your east-coast drawl is making me think I should try it that way. It will probably work better because there's some trickery that listeners migh miss if it's too quick.
Jason: You know what... you're right! I think I'm going to keep writing this one...after all, think of all the source material I have to work from. What can I do with Viola or Malvolio - or those crazy witches?
Stephen & Cordie - thanks for dropping by, and for your warm reception of my work.
THat is one FREAKY picture you got there.
ReplyDeleteI look sane here. Wait till you see me in real life ;)
ReplyDeleteoh yeah, let the music flow!! ive missed your poetry Maxine, this feels like pure energy down my frozen veins :) ..
ReplyDeleteI still prefer the original.
ReplyDelete