In Marker

Bob, , , 
I was buying three paintings a day
I was sponsoring chalk drawings
Anything with scribbles on it
I’d pick up off the street 
Walking alongside junkyard walls I
Wrote on the corrugated steel “Do you know
The album, Zen Arcade, by Husker Du?
Out of Step, by Minor
Threat?"
I went to thrift stores, to city fields, church sales
Just to find the pictorial of light of deity of logic of everything that is endless
And terminal of dark of sun and the more popular binary stars

Be certain
To appertain
The havoc and the intention
The intervention of fiction
As Steve Zissou said,
"Nobody knows what's going to happen. And then we film it. That's the whole concept."

Michael (over at https://ravensweald.com/) and I were talking of old bands we listened to. And Hüsker Dü came up. I mentioned, not only did I like their music, but the title of the album, Zen Arcade and the cover art itself, has been influential to me. I brought up I had a poem were I mention the album title, but had taken it down. Deciding I didn’t like the poem. But I’ve given it another shot at editing. Still not sure it’s finished. But I thought I’d give it another try. I hope you enjoy. Thanks.

18 thoughts on “In Marker”

    1. Thanks Micheal. I was thinking of Zen Arcade. But the one you mention is great too. And I think you summed it up perfectly: ephemeral but somehow permanent. Glad you like this one. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  2. I’m gonna do my best today to see everyday objects as magic and every instance as memorable….. and then when I get home after a walk, I’m gonna listen to the two songs. Thanks for this and the link to another poet.

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      1. Let’s see…I was 9 when Husker Du formed and at the time, about the only thing that interested me was baseball and basketball. It took a few years and some friend’s older brothers that opened my mind to music, but I’ve yet to listen to Husker Du until now. Thanks.

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      2. I hope you like some of their songs. I didn’t start listening to them till my later teen years when I discovered alternative music. In fact, I’m listening to Fugazi right now.

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  4. The middle part of this poem made me think of “soul’s cathedral.” This time, with the narrator looking for cathedrals. But also how we make marks to put our own voice out there. I wasn’t familiar with Zen Arcade’s cover, so I looked it up. Interesting style of art 🙂

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    1. Thanks Dave. That’s really interesting that you tied it in with the cathedral. I’ll play around with combing them. There was something about the surrealism of the title, Zen Arcade. And some guys walking around an auto junkyard that resonated with me. I’m glad you liked it.

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  5. Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:

    That Husker Du song “Gotta Lotta,” I’ve always thought that’d make a good band name, Gotta Lotta. Because it’s easy & fun to say: “Don’t touch that dial, we got the new one from Gotta Lotta coming up!” “& that was ‘Turquoise Tacoma’ by Gotta Lotta!” & it’s ambiguous: gotta lotta what? Money? Sex appeal? Charm? Clout? Yeah, that’ll be my band name. If Slowdive can take their name from some other band’s song, so can I.

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    1. Haha. Count me in on Gotta Lotta. I don’t know what I’d play. Maybe I’ll be the roadie? If we can somehow combine Husker Du and Slowdive into one sound. And I agree, it is fun to say!!

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