For the grossly unaware, my man CORTEZ has a weekly livestream every Monday in which he starts and finishes an original poem. As he describes it, it’s like shitting on camera with a live audience. And much like shitting, the process isn’t always smooth — but we sit until the job is done! And so, he does; and so, he does.
It’s a good watch, and one that’s inspired me to write in that very hour. While he wrestled the world inside into this external one, I listened and took hold of anything that found me. This post features a poem I liked that was prompted by this. The song, Somebody Help Me Now, was a last-minute addition that samples The Red Clay Stray’s Drowning.
(I must admit that I cheated and quickly edited the poem as I typed it up from what I’d handwritten. I was twice inspired! I couldn’t help it!)
Cortez Leaves the Stream for a Glass of Water
The poet sat in a steady stream until he rose for a glass of water, for thirst itself has tasted his tongue. Lazarus! he called, knee deep in a dark well, splashing around in his own ocean, clawing up and falling down the moss covered walls while the moon watched over him. I wonder if he knows my name, she pondered at his feet, 200,000 miles away. Lazarus! Lazarus! he called again. Cellophane petals gathered at his knees, then a long, distended finger with a single drop of water at its tip reached down and down and down and drowned the poet in his own ocean. The moon moved on, for the mouth had devoured itself in its dryness. The moon had moved on from his feet, from 200,000 miles away, and shut the door to his room as he fingered his little machine and called it rain.
Shoutout to CORTEZ for shitting on live. I don’t imagine its easy. If you haven’t read his poetry yet, I’d check this one out.
A Brother Rob collab
