I am fortunate to be married to the most wonderful man in the world! However, in my previous relationship…Well, let’s just say the following poem says it all…
I hate you…
I hate you for a thousand reasons, and here are just a few:
You’re manipulative, mean and dastardly, always dictating what I do.
Why is everything my fault regardless of what occurred?
You always rewrite history, with “facts” that are quite absurd.
You can’t even hold down a job, you lazy, lousy fuck!
Expect full and part-time work from me (by the way, that really SUCKED!).
I regret being with you for a year, much less the 19 I put up with your shit.
The only good in our relationship is that I ended it!
You’re a pond scum bastard who is nothing more than dog shit under my shoes.
So get your lazy ass on the open road and find another family to use.
Because this one left the station, and we have more important things to do than spend a single moment putting up with the likes of you!
So I’m putting myself out there again today. If you read an earlier post, “Meanwhile, back at the coffee house…”, you know that Sammy and I shared poetry at the open mic night at Austin’s coffee (https://austinscoffee.com/) a couple of weeks ago. Recall that yesterday I referenced that my poetry can be dark. Well, here goes…
I died today…
Not the traditional heart stop, ride in an ambulance, enter the ER, end up in ICU, flatline, get wheeled to the coroner, cut opened and examined, the cause of death “undetermined”, get released to the mortuary, the family picks a casket, chooses a final outfit, hundreds of people (or only ten people) show and cry (or don’t cry) about my passing, casket gets transported to the cemetery, six foot hole dug, casket lowered into the ground, weeks pass before the headstone arrives, flowers are placed on the marker every few weeks for the first month or two, and then nothing but weeds.
As I sit here nursing a fine Pinot, I internalize that we are all dying every day, not necessarily from heart failure, but by a failure of the heart, a failure of our fellow man giving a shit about how we are treated, unaware that they are chiseling away at our soul the way an artist creates a masterpiece, but there is no creation here, the chisel peels away at us creating marks, abrasions, scars…we become a fragment of who we once were when we were fresh from the womb, before mankind hammers away at us, etching their needs, demands, desires, expectations, and control.
Why can’t we be left to our own devices, our dreams, our hopes, our beliefs, and live in a world where differences, uniqueness, even eccentricities are not only honored but celebrated?
Okay people, so I’m taking a bit of a risk here. As a writer, I love unstructured poetry, and I have written my fair share of pieces. Although I am a positive person, my poetry writing tends to lean toward a dark side. Now, I won’t shock you with a really dark entry today, however, I feel it is time to unleash the poetic beast.
Initially, I was looking for a picture to accompany my post “Is Everybody High?”. The “high” reference initially brought forth photos of people standing on skyscrapers. So then I’m thinking, let’s pull a picture of weed. So as I entered “weed” in the picture search, I got dandelions and such. Then I entered “smoking pot”. I got metal pots boiling on a stove. After a bit, I stumbled upon the above picture. I don’t know if it’s dope or a cigarette…but whatever.
Let me add a disclaimer here that I don’t smoke marijuana, although I support a person’s right to imbibe. I also love America, however, I am fascinated by the world’s perspective of our country. I am a defender of our first amendment rights, and I am concerned that that right is eroding. Please keep in mind as you read my work that I do love our country. I feel the need to specifically state this because lately citizens are being metaphorically crucified for exercising free speech. By the way, this poem was originally written in 2013 but edited today.
Okay here goes…Fingers crossed…Feel free to exercise your right to free speech in the comments section.
Is Everybody High?
Susie Krivacic
As I look around this crazy world I find myself wondering, “Is everybody high?”
The lack of logic by our leaders puts everyone at a distinct disadvantage.
Europeans believe we are completely daft:
After paying our taxes, we pay enormous fees for our healthcare while theirs is free.
We have become so politically correct that free speech has all but vanished.
We have become so enticed by reality television and our potential 15 minutes of fame that we spend more time daydreaming about an alternate life rather than build a current one.
We work, work, work, work…with limited vacation time.
Europeans start their careers with six weeks of holiday, yet it takes us 20 years with one company to earn even close to that amount.
They travel the world, yet we barely explore what our own country has to offer much less others.
They enjoy leisurely meals, wine at lunch, visiting and savoring each day.
We eat on the fly, using drive-through windows and eat in our car rather than at a table.
We are losing contact with those we love and spending time with those we don’t because we are continuously stuck at work, spending less and less time with our families.
So my visit to Austin’s Coffee (https://austinscoffee.com/) was so fabulous, that my blog post about my experience is a two part summary. See yesterday’s blog “Meanwhile, back at the Coffee House” for Part 1.
Upon my arrival, I had the pleasure of meeting Prophet, a writer new to the open mic poetry scene. He was very friendly, and we struck up a conversation immediately. That night was his first time presenting his poetry in a public forum. Prophet was very passionate about his message. He had overcome difficulty in his childhood and started writing because he needed a change. “I needed a medium to be able to express myself and better understand myself,” Prophet shared with me.
As he took the stage, Prophet’s message gripped the audience as he rapped a poem entitled “Hidden Brilliance” that reflected on the realities of life. He was so engaging and committed to his craft that the onlookers were riveted. One of the delightful aspects of this open mic forum is that it fosters an immediate sense of community. I not only heard amazing poetry, but I made new friends.
An added bonus of the evening is that Sammy and I presented our poetry to the group as well. Our work was well received, and it’s so exciting to have passed down a love of writing to my daughter. I’ve often said of her, “I know I can write, but Sammy is better!”
One of my favorite local spots in Orlando (okay, actually Winter Park), is Austin’s Coffee (https://austinscoffee.com/). Not only do they have a wide variety of excellent coffee and tea, but they also serve numerous adult beverages and scrumptious nibbles. More significant…Austin’s hosts live entertainment nearly every night.
Now what makes this hang out even more special is that the live entertainment is in an open mic format. Check out Austin’s website noted above under the “Events” icon. Austin’s hosts local up and coming talent for general music, jazz, hip hop, stand up comedy, and poetry. It’s a fun, safe environment for artists to share their work and welcomes an eclectic group of friendly patrons.
I had the pleasure of attending a poetry slam at Austin’s just last night. The first poet, Arjun Bala, has been on the poetry scene for a little over a year, and he’s making an impact. After being mesmerized by his spoken word, I was thrilled to discover that he is the featured artist on Friday, July 13, 2018 at the Friday NYte SpotLYte by 1000 Tongues Production. Stop by Dodie’s Place, 1516 East Colonial Drive Suite 304 Orlando, FL 32803 at 9:00 pm. Your $10 donation helps raise money for the “Homeless Poet”, a poet who lives on the streets of Paramour.
Harmonious Groove 