Jump Start Poems
I wonder, too, if jump start poems are worth it
I mean, poems, meant to get at existential being itself
For a moment (brief moment) stripped of social causality
Not having to take a publicly recognizable position
Not having to, you know, massage an affiliation
But instead, riffing on what’s elementally human
What’s fundamentally common between folks
Instead of about folks, as proclaimed by folks
Jump start poetry that pivots around a few key words
Words that, for the moment (brief moment) hold the mystery
The puzzle of being in time on this planet
Or not even being on this planet, but wanting to
I wonder if jump start poems are a cop out
Or a necessary moment (brief moment) against cop out
Or maybe something in between – stuck, broken
I wonder if folks are almost always in between
Copping out, not copping out, copping out, not copping out
But play it like they’re one or the other, certain
I wonder if jump start poems even exist
And if they don’t, whether they should exist
You know, poems that pivot around certain words
Words, like “being” “folks” “mystery” “pivot”
And if they do exist, whether they wonder themselves
About poems that wonder about not wondering
Fending off the hounds of lassitude, indolence, and surrender
Just long enough for a jump poem to start it all
I mean, poems, meant to get at existential being itself
For a moment (brief moment) stripped of social causality
Not having to take a publicly recognizable position
Not having to, you know, massage an affiliation
But instead, riffing on what’s elementally human
What’s fundamentally common between folks
Instead of about folks, as proclaimed by folks
Jump start poetry that pivots around a few key words
Words that, for the moment (brief moment) hold the mystery
The puzzle of being in time on this planet
Or not even being on this planet, but wanting to
I wonder if jump start poems are a cop out
Or a necessary moment (brief moment) against cop out
Or maybe something in between – stuck, broken
I wonder if folks are almost always in between
Copping out, not copping out, copping out, not copping out
But play it like they’re one or the other, certain
I wonder if jump start poems even exist
And if they don’t, whether they should exist
You know, poems that pivot around certain words
Words, like “being” “folks” “mystery” “pivot”
And if they do exist, whether they wonder themselves
About poems that wonder about not wondering
Fending off the hounds of lassitude, indolence, and surrender
Just long enough for a jump poem to start it all
The Land
“The land…
is our friend”
that’s it––
take two
“The land…
is ours”
not bad––
take three
“The land…
we love”
well done––
take four
“The land…
loves us”
excellent––
take five
“The land…
speaks English”
whoa––
repeat take five
“The land…
speaks Chitimacha”
(whoa)
repeat take five
“The land…
doesn’t care”
that’s more like it--
take six
“The land…
is the land’s”
bingo--
take seven
“The land…
wants the sea”
what?
repeat take seven
“The land…
swims to sea”
perfect––
take eight
“The land…
floats in space”
weird, but
it’s a wrap
is our friend”
that’s it––
take two
“The land…
is ours”
not bad––
take three
“The land…
we love”
well done––
take four
“The land…
loves us”
excellent––
take five
“The land…
speaks English”
whoa––
repeat take five
“The land…
speaks Chitimacha”
(whoa)
repeat take five
“The land…
doesn’t care”
that’s more like it--
take six
“The land…
is the land’s”
bingo--
take seven
“The land…
wants the sea”
what?
repeat take seven
“The land…
swims to sea”
perfect––
take eight
“The land…
floats in space”
weird, but
it’s a wrap
Rodrigo Toscano is a poet and dialogist based in New Orleans. He is the author of ten books of poetry, including newest book, The Charm & The Dread (Fence Books, 2022). He has appeared in over 20 anthologies, including Best American Poetry and Best American Experimental Poetry (BAX). rodrigotoscano.com @Toscano200