I immediately picked up on tension in “legendary underground poet” because sometimes the underground is exactly where the legends live Puma. Half the people who actually change art never become household names -- they become whispered names, passed hand to hand like contraband books or burned CDs. That’s its own kind of immortality.
Your point about musicians sharing the stage more generously than poets hit home too. Poetry scenes can drift into this strange scarcity mindset where everyone’s guarding a tiny patch of spotlight as if there’s only room for one person at the mic. Music often feels more collaborative, more communal, less obsessed with invisible rankings.
And the “People’s Artist” thing is like such a perfect accidental metaphor for modern art culture: daily voting, purchasable votes, algorithmic popularity masquerading as grassroots support. Somewhere between a county fair, crowdfunding campaign, and dystopian telethon. Still, I’ve been voting for you every day because the rules allow it, and there’s something beautifully absurd and human about that too.
What stayed with me most though was this line:
“Art saves a few more lives than it takes.”
That’s painfully true. Especially for those of us who’ve watched friends disappear while the work remains behind glowing like embers. The ending of “Why Am I Here?” is great -- the baseball imagery, the stranded loves, the outfielder striking out again. That poem understands grief without trying to tidy it up into wisdom.
Also: “Art is not a guest list” deserves to be on a t-shirt, a mural, and probably taped to the door of every reading series in America.
Thanks so much. I guess legendary and underground do co-exist, but it set off a sequence of thoughts in my head which is always helpful in these times.
I’ll look into voting for you. You always hit it squarely in your writing. Wry is the word that comes to mind. One thing, I don’t trust Johnny Depp. Anyone that owns an island is not living a reality that I understand. Cushion change, that $25k. He’s laughing at everyone. Bored and laughing. Good luck darling.
The legend of the underground. About the story not necessarily the fame. Although often they are hand in hand. The underground would seem to be fertile for mythos making. And they don’t even need to be true stories just the things people whisper about in certain circles.
Certain circles, indeed. The community of artist that once existed is now composed of exclusive little circles. From where I'm sitting, anyway. Thanks for reading and writing.
This one is multi-interpretive and will inspire many responses. My opinion, if it matters is that we are all legends to SOMEONE. Legendary is, as you say, very different. My dog thinks I’m a goddess. There for I am. Competitive with self is healthy. With others it’s not ever going to end well.
I'm judging a contest that I won last year - that pays $250. I won't know who the poets are when I read them, and I'm certain I'll know many of the poets in real life, so hopefully nobody gets to mad at me, as there's only one 1st place winner.
I get the spirit of it. But would 25 G change much in the medical system, or in your personal system? Just asking.Anyway, they wouldn't award that money for something as unglamorous as health issues.
I immediately picked up on tension in “legendary underground poet” because sometimes the underground is exactly where the legends live Puma. Half the people who actually change art never become household names -- they become whispered names, passed hand to hand like contraband books or burned CDs. That’s its own kind of immortality.
Your point about musicians sharing the stage more generously than poets hit home too. Poetry scenes can drift into this strange scarcity mindset where everyone’s guarding a tiny patch of spotlight as if there’s only room for one person at the mic. Music often feels more collaborative, more communal, less obsessed with invisible rankings.
And the “People’s Artist” thing is like such a perfect accidental metaphor for modern art culture: daily voting, purchasable votes, algorithmic popularity masquerading as grassroots support. Somewhere between a county fair, crowdfunding campaign, and dystopian telethon. Still, I’ve been voting for you every day because the rules allow it, and there’s something beautifully absurd and human about that too.
What stayed with me most though was this line:
“Art saves a few more lives than it takes.”
That’s painfully true. Especially for those of us who’ve watched friends disappear while the work remains behind glowing like embers. The ending of “Why Am I Here?” is great -- the baseball imagery, the stranded loves, the outfielder striking out again. That poem understands grief without trying to tidy it up into wisdom.
Also: “Art is not a guest list” deserves to be on a t-shirt, a mural, and probably taped to the door of every reading series in America.
Thanks so much. I guess legendary and underground do co-exist, but it set off a sequence of thoughts in my head which is always helpful in these times.
Sometimes a single phrase opens a door to a whole chain of thoughts we didn’t know we needed. Glad this one did that for you.
Yay!!! Doing it that’s all.
Thanks, Paul.
Hi Puma,
I’ll look into voting for you. You always hit it squarely in your writing. Wry is the word that comes to mind. One thing, I don’t trust Johnny Depp. Anyone that owns an island is not living a reality that I understand. Cushion change, that $25k. He’s laughing at everyone. Bored and laughing. Good luck darling.
Thanks, but it's just a joke to me, not real at all. I was just trying to throw off the algorithms by being a long shot. Thanks!
The legend of the underground. About the story not necessarily the fame. Although often they are hand in hand. The underground would seem to be fertile for mythos making. And they don’t even need to be true stories just the things people whisper about in certain circles.
Certain circles, indeed. The community of artist that once existed is now composed of exclusive little circles. From where I'm sitting, anyway. Thanks for reading and writing.
This one is multi-interpretive and will inspire many responses. My opinion, if it matters is that we are all legends to SOMEONE. Legendary is, as you say, very different. My dog thinks I’m a goddess. There for I am. Competitive with self is healthy. With others it’s not ever going to end well.
Fae claims to be the Goddess.
I'm judging a contest that I won last year - that pays $250. I won't know who the poets are when I read them, and I'm certain I'll know many of the poets in real life, so hopefully nobody gets to mad at me, as there's only one 1st place winner.
Hope not. I mean there are judges at the Mermaid Parade too, right? My Ex won the Best Neptune once, the highlight of his life to date.
Won't let me vote as I don't have a "facebook." 😔
Don't worry about it. I'm not destined for the Winner's Circle.
Interesting question about competition in the arts. To do or not to do.
Twenty five thousand dollars? I would bribe doctors to see me in timely fashion, return calls, and understanding that yes, I'm in pain.
I get the spirit of it. But would 25 G change much in the medical system, or in your personal system? Just asking.Anyway, they wouldn't award that money for something as unglamorous as health issues.
So true. I'm just frustrated.
I get it.