Imagine my surprise to find a new, to me, genre of music that turns out to be perfect for my Nano project this year. Part of Picture Perfect take place in a circus museum that I’ve imagined on the east coast. The museum is an attempt by a smallish town to create somewhat of a tourist attraction – as tourism is the prime industry in many parts of the east coast.
rides are in my blood
So I did a search for calliope music to see if that would put me the mood – it put me over the moon – what better invitation to sit down to the computer to write than a great circus march. A little goes along way mind you but the relentless fun of this music is hard to resist as it gets my imagination really flowing and flowering.
tea cup rides are so scarrry
I also grabbed some fresh beta beats (as suggested by nanorimo’s Chris Batty) for my iPod to tune my creative frequencies when I’m out for my morning walk. The walk falls after I’ve done my first couple of pages where I get the scene started. Getting out gives that start time to develop in my subconscious. I may know how things start & where I want them to end up but the thinking often changes how they get there.
but not scarrry as clowns
Over the past few months I read the various NaNoWriMo books – ‘no plot no problem’ etc – nothing new to me in them but a nice confirmation that much of my creative (as opposed to structural) approach is a good one to get the job done. One thing I learned in improv is that pushing fast can take you into unexpected and sometimes brilliant directions. Nano is a written improv in which I try transcribe without editing or telling the brain to slow down. When I do that I lose all fear and can find myself on the tight rope without intending to be there.
So I’m stepping into the big ring tomorrow.
Calliope
there is this circus of flesh
that moves faster
than the blood can pound
that over rides all cautions
lessons learned go out the window
when that pandemonium opens
cotton candy balls of fun
for the ones who surrender
to take give take give
rise and fall
expectation and delivery
the fierce red flush of ginger hair
that surrounds the heave and heft
of the the timid and free
fleeting and heavy
melt of the stars
into a mouth
into the sudden rise
shape fall
stomach churning moment
when a glance is returned
take this button popping opportunity
slow stroke of zipper
happy slide of pants
shirts
sweaters
shoes socks
fly through the air
merry go around
in the middle of the bed
sheet strewn masses
wrinkled rivers of dim corner
vibrant and frightened
tongue chasing twists
I know the promise
I take this opportunity
to chase the roller coaster
to sharper shocks
higher highs
all dips hips slips
the rock solid rocket
twist and tumble
the grazed knees
the bruised knuckles
the wet dry hot cool
sweat sweet breath to catch
running faster lunge
the weight of one on the other
that pulls each to the earth
accepts shares
separates courses
through the veins
beat pulse
throb shudder
seek the chance to get back on the ride
I know the circus
will pitch another tent
but I am reluctant to leave this one
so sweetly pitched
so well enjoyed
employed spent dreamy sleepy
in this gift of satisfaction
this blank slate surrender
for a few blinding seconds
when we played each other
like a big rolly polly
steam calliope
that never runs out of steam
not porn!!
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“Written improv” – LOVE that analogy :-).