Beatnik Poetry Slam – Infinite Mystery


Today’s Music: Tony Bennet & Diana Krall – I’ve Got The World On A String

Note – Tonight’s Beatnik Poetry Slam ans nothing to do with Lynne at Free Penny Press who is hosting take-it-to-the-street-poetry.
Because Beats don’t join clubs like that.
Unless there’s dark coffee.
And angst.

A black curtain, speckled with bright white LEDs
Drummer Moe Green with the brushes plays the Hi Hat (Ka-Tshhhh) under a dark blue backlight.

A warm pinpoint spot slowly widens on the black-turtle necked torso of El Guapo, clove cigarette dangling languidly from his lips, mirrored Wayfarers reflecting the infinity of space…

Like jewels
Glimmering in deepest darkest dirt
I blink
Ka-Tshhhh
rocket past a star.
Photons
Ka-Tshhhh
illuminate my pores
Meteors
orbit near and far
(exhale of smoke scents the room with clove)

The universe
asks me who what I want
Traveling
Byond
in darkness and in light
My answer
Ka-Tshhhh
echoes out beyond.
Baby,
Ka-Tshhhh
Is there any booze
available on this flight?

(Fast tattoo on the Hi Hat)

Aaaand fade…

*Note – El Guapo does not condone the use of turtlenecks or clove cigarettes. Ray Ban Wayfarers, however, are just plain cool.

72 responses to “Beatnik Poetry Slam – Infinite Mystery

  1. Poetry slams are fun! Definition of poetry these days, like sex, is VERY broad..why are they called Slams?? So that people who like basketball go there under the impression something sporty and exciting may be happening??

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    • From http://www.poetryslam.com:
      “Simply put, poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. It puts a dual emphasis on writing and performance, encouraging poets to focus on what they’re saying and how they’re saying it”
      I don’t think I’ll win any competitions with this, Beautiful, but it amuses the hell out of me!

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  2. Hi,
    The Beatnik scene was always a mystery to me. 😀
    Great poems for the Beatnik theme. 😆
    I see you got a great photo of the Space Shuttle, doesn’t seem to be a lot of security around it either. I wonder when it is put in it’s spot will they let the public go inside? Or at least have some way of looking inside.

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    • They are going to be putting it at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum on the West side of Manhattan,Magsx2. It’s a retired aircraft carrier turned museum. They will probably have a raised platform so we can look in the windows, but I doubt they’ll let people in.
      Still,I’ll probably go after the opening rush dies down.

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  3. Love these el g. Been a whim since you done one. And Diana Krall is the bomb. And with Tony Bennett. Wow

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    • I was surprised to see I’d only done two before, John.I’ll have to see if I can’t devise more bad pretentious poetry.
      I was going to go with Sinatra’s version, then Louis Prima. But I saw Tony/Diana and had to go with that.

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      • Really, only 2, they must have impressed me lol. I see my fat thumbs destroyed my comment again. I hope the next iPhone has a bigger screen. Sinatra, yeah, that would have been great to.

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  4. This is awesome. One of my favorite things you have written. I know, I’m weird, but I really love it.

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  5. Seriously? No turtlenecks?? Who’s going to tell Diane Keaton??
    Seriously the second…nice slam dude

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  6. Keep calm.
    Bow ties are cool.

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  7. That’s crazy man… like I dig it. Hmmm… that’s all I got. Seriously, nice work. This is the first Poetry Slam I’ve seen. I know, I don’t get out much. -_-

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    • There’s a category for them on the left, Wendy.
      And don’t let anyone tell you spending time out over here is a waste of time.
      (because that’s just depressing!)

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  8. Slam and Dunk Dude! Sound effects awesome.. languidly huh? right on..I woulda said you did more than 2 also..huh.. just plain cool (with sprinkles) Ka-tsssshhhh!

    totally ROCKS you got to see it 🙂 and avoided the authorities too! Guess the bail money can be saved for the next shenanigan.. 😉

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    • Thanks lizziec!
      Surprisingly, the only person that said anything about it was a parking lot attendant who didn’t want me sitting in her drive…

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  9. I’m a little annoyed with you at the moment. How the hell do you find all the coolest bloggers? I am getting tired of everyone finding my blog through yours.
    That said, thanks for somehow leading the person who just put my favorite comment on my blog. Now, please tell me how to find her blog…She is Lilly, and you found her blog yesterday.

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    • That would be http://www.pathoflillys.com
      I found her through another blog I’ve been following for a whlle, http://asplenia.blogspot.com who alternates between very deep stuff, and hilarious what-the-hell? posts. Please don’t ask me how I found Asplenia’s site. I have absolutely no idea…
      I’m slowly working my way through Lilly’s backlog, but yeah, it’s pretty good stuff.

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      • I know, she is my lover. Just joking, I don’t know how well she’ll like it, but have you read her comments on my blog? She told me where to find her, but she should be on WordPress, so it’s easier. Anyway, I don’t know our she realizes what she stepped into when she found me, but I’m going to be all over that girl, she is like a funnier version of me.

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  10. No turtlenecks! What about bell bottoms in bright red or yellow?

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  11. Bennett and Krall together … that was awesome! Not quite as good as the poetry, but still awesome. Now, it’s time for the classic beatnik.

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  12. Weenie Girl

    Diana Krall? It doesn’t seem like you’ve seen the obits EG. You need to pay homage to Donna Summer. You have until the 24th to amend that. Until then, I’ll be in the garden collecting offensive bugs in my little bucket.

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  13. free penny press

    I had no idea you wrote Po!.. very cool.. great song selection too.
    post script: thanks for the shout-out!!!

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    • Shh, not so loud FPP, or I might think I can actually write this stuff. Then where will be ?!?
      Thanks, and hope people stop by to check it out!

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  14. whiteladyinthehood

    That was groovy~ you are one cool cat. Ka-Tshhhh…

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  15. therecoveringbrit

    You had me at turtleneck….

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  16. I condone the use of turtlenecks. Though I don’t think my answer to the universe’s questions would have been the same as Guap’s. ❤

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  17. *snap snap snap* I dig. You and your booze…!

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  18. Oh that was great! Total giggles over here at YoYo-Dyne. Love my Wayfarers but gave up the cloves after college. Seriously EG, that piece was hysterical on so many levels heh
    xo

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  19. I’m not Slam material, babe, I don’t have the memory and the competitive attitude reminds me too much of my old jazz days and “cut sessions,” where singers and musicians would fight to the death and then there’s the blood(y marys) and the mess…

    LOVED yours, the onomatopoeic touches, the thwap of the drums, and it really took me back to the best gigs. Masterful! I did a dverse I think you’ll like. Check out the link attached below the poem. Very pulp fiction-ish… complete with a blousy blonde…Amy http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/05/20/shot-glasses-and-shop-classes-dverse-poets/

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  20. Soooo you are a poet too 🙂 Well I think that you have done
    excellently on this one El Guapo, even if I have never seen
    any other Poetry Slam offerings before…

    Have a ghoulishly exciting start to your week 🙂

    Androgoth

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  21. A clove-scented flight, man that sounds suhweet. Nice poem, caught me by surprise. At first I thought it was going to be about getting a facial, lol!

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    • Ok, Asplenia, I’m racking my brain trying to figure out
      A – What xactly you mean
      and B – How you got there from here.
      And I’m sure if I figure it out, I’ll be laughing even harder! 😉

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  22. You can’t hear it, Guap-Daddy, but man, you’d better dig that I’m snappin’ my fingers to your outtasite patter, Professor!

    A question: Is your drummer the same Moe Greene who was slain so memorably in the climactic scene of the Godfather? Because if so, I have a number of follow up questions.

    Lastly–Sadly, no booze on that flight my friend.

    Another superlative soliloquy, Socrates! Boffo!

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    • Thanks Smak, and your comment has out-Beated me!
      Going to have to check a Beat lexicon before the next slam. And yes, there will be a next one…
      And this Moe Green is alive and well.

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  23. You already have plenty of comments, but I had to write because I like it! Does that mean I have bad taste in poetry?

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  24. Today’s music is perfect! HF

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  25. I dig the place you’re feeling. And that Tony Bennett/Diana Krall swing is sweetness, yes, on a string.

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  26. I’m so happy someone agrees with me about the turtleneck thing. I don’t trust anyone who won’t show me their neck.

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  27. Maynard El Guapo Krebs – you are going to single-handedly bring back the beatniks! I want to be a beatnik now Ka-tshhh! I loved that poem you wrote. You are so cool. I always knew you were cool but I didn’t have any idea how cool. Well now I know Ka-tshhh
    Illuminate my pores meteors! You’re a cat who can really purrrr Ka-tshhhh!

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  28. Snap Snap so cool Dadeo!
    Great pic of the shuttle. I still have my bags packed to go Home. Settled for the Silver outfit but now I’m thinking I should have gone with the gold. I enjoyed Toney Bennet and DIane Krall. I think Tony’s duets are great he’s an inspiration to do what you Love to do for as long as you can. Boy the room is thick with clove.

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  29. That is very attention-grabbing, You’re an overly skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to looking for more of your wonderful post. Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks

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Ahem *best Ricky Ricardo voice* Babble-OOOoooo!!!