(after graffiti art by
Banksy)
by Neil Ellman
Anywhere is where
I’ll go
anywhere but here
where I am
and there
where I was.
To Jerusalem
to find my soul
or Bethlehem
to be born again
no matter which
or where
I’ll share the drive.
Carry my spirit
In the passenger seat
to the other side
where tomorrow
is another place
where I can live
another life other than
the life I lead
or die again
in any other place
but this
where I am now
already dead.
Poet’s Notes: Ekphrastic poetry involves
an effort to respond to and interact with a visual image. Just how far
the poet should deviate from the original image remains somewhat controversial.
My poem, "Hitchhiker to Anywhere," is closely related to the
Banksy image itself, which is of Charles Manson holding a placard reading
"Anywhere." While the graffiti was still in existence, efforts
were made to change the placard to read "Nowhere," which was
certainly a legitimate response. Mine is legitimate as well, but we
probably will never know because of the secretiveness of the artist.
Editor’s Note: The Kerouac-ian, hippy vibe of this poem is such fun in spite of the art that inspired it.
No comments:
Post a Comment
SONGS OF ERETZ EXISTS TO PROMOTE ITS POETS AND THEIR POETRY. ACCORDINGLY, ONLY POSITIVE COMMENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLICATION.
If you wish to provide suggestions, feedback, or constructive criticism to the Songs of Eretz staff, please send your thoughts to Editor@SongsOfEretz.com. You may or may not receive a response, but your thoughts will be read.