Routes Options

[RC James]

I.

I wanted Zurich, exile spot
and refuge for Tristan Tzara
and other dada heroes;
the way trains
were running today,
I ended up in Milano.


II.


Lenin leaned to Joyce on the way into a gathering:

"Who is that small fellow with the black round glasses
and the smirk?"

"Tzara's his name, he's Hungarian so all is forgiven
at least onto my participle."

"He reminds me of Trotsky, hopefully the association is mis-given."

"Or mistaken, either one I suppose
however I grok your meaning."

"You say so - have you read my recent tract?
Could not have, I have only copy.
By my way, do you, the respectfully writer, know
anyone suited to fulfilling secretarifull duties?
I'm having abnormal problems, unmentionable,
with my present one."

"I'm not in the line of maneuvering political meanings
toward their accustomed readers,
however (archly) Tzara is I think looking for a position
fully graced to put his agile pen to work.
I'll put the issue to him next time we're discussing wages
and opportunities for the working man.
He's agile on both points."

"Well nothing like present moments to overcome
doubts and resistance.
Introduce us, we'll see how the land lies
(lies or lays)?"

"Either way is best really
my position lies on what lays
are fully voiced for full change."

"Really you English twist things about in an impossible way"

"Please O Please Mr. Comissar,
Irish born and, yes, I do love Irish bread."

"I hope the Hungarian speaks in a more simple way:"

"He's hardly simple but he makes his own kind of sense
in a non-sensical con-sensual way."

"Go you there again you go."

"Can't really help me from self, sorry:"

(they approach Tzara)

"Tristan T. here is a man of moments you must meet with work."

"Work work work
smirk sirk sirk
who above you are any of you?
Yes, I am Tristan to the T."

"I need a solid secetary."

"Have mentioned now you a desk or a worker
or a worker's desk
or a worker at his desk? WAA! HOHHH!"

"Ahh Joist I must for be goink
works out not for all workers:"

"To the large world at last we have spun,
sun wasted, shine still on Dublin,
first now and ever last, ever shall we again
we shall dance."


iii.


In the Milano train yard
dealers hover over their stashes,
coca leaf-thin models flutter to the platforms.
Post-punk gangs, rattling obscenities
puncture the scene.

Shining in rush hour parade
gaudy monochrome sculptures
populate the square, focused
on separate vanishing points.

Leaving the sculpture field
onlookers carry tones, shadings,
a partial understanding
of subtle patterns, nuances

from the artist; across a restive night,
a private, evolutionary incursion.

[K.S. Lenk]

I'm not sure this should be in FV. Parts of it, yes.
Decide what you want with this, then the reader will too.

Regards,

K

[Eisa]

I think Krista might be right - this is more like prose

Eira

[RC James]

Yah, the form is problematic - On several other sites it's been recognized as a poem, mixed form, but, poetry. This is the only objection I've had on this. I'm going to leave it here, if mods want to remove it or move it, it doesn't matter to me, as it seems it's only going to attract comments on the form and not the content, which, as I intended it, is in the questionable poetic tradition of Tzara. R

[Psyche]

Hi RC,

Been away mostly, so I just spotted this work of yours. I don't presume to be highly informed on dadaism, but fairly long ago I read lots of Tzara's poems and found them to my liking. I believe he was Rumanian, right? He broke the accepted rules of form and content, but all the same, IMO, achieved some stunning poems in the process.
There was a big anti-poetry movement around or after his time, followed by surrealism (in poetry and art).
The chilean poet Ruiz Huidobro was considered a dadaist.

Near my neck of the woods, we also had the famous chilean poet Nicanor Parra, one of whose works was called Poemas y Antipoemas (1954) After reading his poetry, he'd always say: "Nothing of what I've just said is true", or something like that. He was a mathematician and physicist who received many distinctions worldwide.

His sister Violeta Parra was an activist. Wonderful singer and guitarist, who defended indigenuous peoples, but finally committed suicide. Her beautiful songs are still sung by modern interpreters.

It's my bedtime now, but will return asap. to re-read your piece. I confess that I'm also fond of poetry without punctuation or Caps. Most anti-poetry fascinates me.

Syl***

[Psyche]

Hi RC,

Back again, as promised. Below is link to a video, in which Tristan Tzara explains how to write a dadaist poem.

Hope it works for you.

I've family visiting and must help with the supper preparations. I'll come back and read your poem again. Maybe make some comments. Or have some nits! Dunno...Still, I appreciate your contribution because it's made me go back in time, when I was young and loved new "movements" of any kind.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3sNiiOlvjU


Syl