The Beautiful and the Damned (BuDa) Jackie Burroughs’ Toast (not roast) at Zelda’s was yet another packed house for this new series. As one of the organizers I have to admit we are doing something right to pack them in with Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (http://www.cfsw.ca/) also packing them in on the same night.
DM Moore hosted a great show with strong open-stage performances by Marcy Rogers, and David Bateman. Philip Cairns did a sweet, high-glitter, featurette with some of his affectionate poems about Jackie. First feature Sandy Day launched her book ‘Chatterbox Poems.’ Having read the book I was curious to see how she would present her work. The book is structured with a prose piece then a poem – often the prose commenting on the poem to follow, which I quite enjoyed but wondered how the poetry would breath without the prose.
Sandy gave a strong if slightly nervous reading on her work. For her first time before an audience she did very well. The material was strong but, as I did with the book, I found the prose passages more emotionally grounded.
I did my featurette in the second set – mostly material from ‘Walk Through’ (a chap books of pieces inspired by Jackie) with one piece ‘Shitman’ that I had written with Jackie in mind. It brought down the house, while the ‘Walk Through’ pieces I choose got some laughs and even a few tears. Plus I sold some chapbooks.
Rex Baunset closed the show with a rollicking, high-energy set of fierce gay-folk-punk songs. This man and an acoustic guitar blew the roof off. I’ve heard Rex several time now and each time he gets better. His new songs were funny and hard-hitting at the same time. Someone get this man a record contract.
Being part of the BuDa team my opinions may not be totally impartial but such is life.
Shitman
he had a shitty attitude
everyone knew that
even passing in the the street
strangers knew he had a shitty attitude
and he didn’t give a shit
if they didn’t like his shitty attitude
they could eat shit and die
for all he cared
for all they cared he was dead
<>
he knew that
by the way they glanced so quickly
looking a way in dismay
acting as if he wasn’t even there
as if they could see though shit
they didn’t know jack shit
that much he knew
and so he didn’t care
if they shit in their shoes when he was near them
<>
he chuckled
shitman would be his super hero name
is it a bird
is a plane
no it’s shitman
and they would crap their pants
<>
that would fix all those mucky muck politicians
if he went to a big important speech
stood in front of them
as they spouted their bullshit to the nation
and glanced down at him
and shit their pants
right there on stage
<>
he could see the look on the face of
the president
the prime minister
the queen
as they found themselves in front of the world
all those cameras microphones reporters
unable to hold it in another minute
that panic as sphincter muscles relaxed
and they crapped their pants
as the smell was recognized
<>
what a laugh that would be
as everyone pretended there was no shit
acted as if the mucky muck had not
just dumped a load in his pants
right their in front of everyone
as he waddled off stage
with that shit my pants walk
crap oozing down into his shoes
<>
yea for shitman
that would be so sweet
TOpoet 