Poetry?

Before I was a full-time teacher I used to participate in readings around Los Angeles. Mostly involving poets. Even though I focused on fiction writing in grad school, it was the poets (and in some cases, comedians) of L.A. that welcomed me and allowed me the chance to combine my art with my writing in a public setting. I integrated dolls and costumes or outfits I designed. Readings, to me, are performance art.

When I teach, it's not as much of a performative outlet as you might think it could be, because, well, I'm there to help children and also, my school requires us to teach one-to-one. Despite the "audience-of-one" I have sitting across from me, six, seven or eight times a day, I do my best to be prepared, focused and enthusiastic. I'm sure the administration and parents of the kids I teach would be pleased to know that I do not consider this performance art. I do, however, think I've learned a whole lot about improvisation by way of this experience, over the years.

Sometimes we are encouraged to perform things with and for all of our students (who are teens and tweens) as a group, during lunchtime. When I have something prepared, I try and take advantage of this opportunity to perform. In the photo above, I was participating in a poetry-reading event. It happened about a little over a year ago. I took the opportunity to show off a puppet I made for a larger project I started but haven't had time for. I also shared a "prose poem" written from the perspective of the puppet-character I invented. I call him Mr. Nibbles. The project has to do with a cat that is simultaneously anthropomorphizing and transforming into a liminal creature.

Here is the poem:

INTERNET STAR

I woke up one day
and I was a unicorn. Sort of.
Weird, right?
Here’s another thing, I can talk.
Grumpy Cat can't talk.

I don't know what I am.

Go on the internet, they said.
I said, what’s the internet, I'm a cat.

Lil Bub thinks I'm a joke.
She mocks my fifteen views on Youtube.
I once made fun of her for drooling
and then I felt like a jerk.
I was just jealous.

What does it take to be an internet star?

Why do I care? What am I for?

I wish I was Tubbs or any one of those cats on Neko Atsume. That’s the life.
Linda says it’s “meta” for me to play that game.
​She uses the term, meta, so people can tell she has a Master's degree.

I can read her mind.
I can read your mind.
Just kidding. Lol.
​
What does it take to be an internet star?