(After Charles Bernstein)
by Annisa Tangreen
A note to readers: This poem is part of a journal of imitations done in the spring of 2011 for a class on contemporary American poetry given by Professor Tenney Nathanson at the University of Arizona. This particular poem is an imitation of the style of Charles Bernstein, a 20th century American poet. The other poems in the series consist of an imitation of Frank O’Hara (Egypt), John Ashbery (Do Not Worry They Are Coming), and Leslie Scalapino (Choices). **NOTE: The typographical errors in this poem are there on purpose.
Incredible capacious blankness,
blackness drowning
pangs of longing,
knowing joyful opulence
sheltered some years, you’ve
grown and all and. Nighttime
more incendiary, insinuating
memories a farce a,
paucity, paltry some a and.
Stairs. Stop. The and mighty if
only. Stop. Thorny crowns of optimism.
“All aboard the Jolly Roger!” Stop.
“Get the ones that are easy to grow. That way everyone will think you have a green thumb.”
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Compelled
to experience those things
that complete us, at last.
Forging ahead unheeding, unaware
of those things left behind.
Screaming
of our destinies, the future, always.
Little boys become men and
little girls, women. Before our eyes,
before their time. Then we only notice
the now, as compared to what has been,
what once was and will never be again.
You shall respect your mother and your father.
The student regularly demonstrates proficiency in the majority of the standards for third grade. The student, with limited errors, grasps and applies key concepts, processes, and skills for third grade. The student consistently meets and regularly exceeds the effort and behavior expectations for his or her ability. These behaviors indicate how a third grader will demonstrate their progress toward mastery of these standards:
1. Effective Communicator: Expresses ideas in a variety of ways.
2. Informed Thinker: Uses a variety of strategies in problem solving and decision making.
3. Self-directed Learner: Develops plans to accomplish goals.
4. Collaborative Worker: Acknowledges and respects contributions of others.
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Sinking
the
in while
floods
What matter
I my
and my me?
When thousands
of are
and bloated
on the
of
Dead
that were
playing the
of far -yen?
And
is ok
and invited
jewelry !
As anyone
alone
any more
I dog
special because
Because
the richest
in the
, that doesn’t
earthquakes
or
My gets
and tofu
and , and
And purple
up shore
Japan.
isotopes drift
the .
People in
in ,
in the they
yesterday.
As if the Kardashians matter at all to anyone in the world, ever, in the long run.
And all the knowing of answers
and telling and. Wasted breath, wasted
time is precious, specious.
All of this. This is all.
Cyclical hopes of fortuitous
turnings. Risings, repenting,
lamenting. “You were right.”
Turning up; up the stairs
tuning out
the call because you
were always loved
too much.
Annisa Tangreen