I was talking with John Leax via email today. One of the perks of being editor for TheHighCalling.org is that I get to work with some of the best writers and poets in the country. If you don’t know Leax’s work, you must check it out.
He also edits an interesting blogzine called Stone Work Journal, that published two of my poems in their last issue. Eventually, they hope to host audio content for the poems as well.
All that to say, it’s been awhile since I posted a poem here. So here’s a poem and a podcast of me reading it:
The Picasso of Pancakes
The picasso of pancakes resented his orders.
“One bacon smiley, eggs over hard,”
the smoke thin waitress barked. He started,
a human automat arranging each plate-
sized pancake face—fried eggs spying him
while he snapped a bacon strip
into thirds to force its smile.
“Chocolate peepers and cream.”
A popular order of candy eyes,
chocolate face, whipped smile squirted
from a can–pfffffffssssshhhhhhht.
Teenagers brought the epiphany feast
via the flustered waitress mumbling,
“Customer’s always right.” Then,
“Bacon smiley, over medium.”
Picasso cook nodded, flipped an omelet,
reached for oil. But wait. They don’t
want a smile. “Can you make it angry?”
they asked, a caffeine question if ever one was.
So he trimmed the egg white at sharp angles,
broke bacon into frowns and found
the smile on his own face.
Gabcast! Good Word Editing #7 – The Picasso of Pancakes
Marcus Goodyear reads a poem because it’s Friday.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Loved hearing you read! Made me feel like going to the Metropolitan Museum with you, maybe eating street food along the way or Indian food after, Picasso poet.
That’s so funny…. we went to IHOP in Kerrville with some of our youth kids, and one of the more creative kids asked for just that… an angry pancake. They served it to him with a smile. We laughed. It was lovely.
I loved it!! and I smiled too – and I haven’t done a lot of that today – thanks!! And now I know what you sound like too!
L.L., too bad we never made it to the Met. The street fair was fun, and the Indian food at Devi has become a legend in our household.
Lady Jane Grey, Sarah, where do you think I got the idea for this poem, silly person!
Susan, what a compliment! Thanks. Too much poetry doesn’t make anyone smile at all.
Love the ending, Mark. : )
Okay man, tell us about gabcast. How did you do that?
Eve, you are sweet. Thanks. I was trying to give permission to Christians to be authentic. Too often, Christians put on this fake happy face, like “chocolate peepers and cream.” But sometimes there is real joy in being honest about feeling grumpy. We don’t sin in our grumpiness, but we don’t necessarily stuff it down inside ourselves and put up a veneer of “Christian joy.” In fact, when we find healthy outlets for our grumpiness, we may just find the smile on our own face again.
Gordon, gabcast is free. I found it through Randy Ingermanson’s newsletter. Once I set up an account, there’s a 1-800 number I call. I leave a voice message, which the site turns into a podcast. Pretty cool. I should do it more often.
what a great reading voice you have. I’ll have to check out gabcast…and maybe do a podcast one of these days.
Nice poem, Markus, and very nice read.
Reminds me of Rich Mullins lyrics, maybe because I’ve been listening to him alot, lately. Whimsical, imaginative, memorable.
It takes a brave man to do poetry these days. Seems to be a lost art. Thanks for keeping the fire going. And, what a great poem.
ESI, thanks! We read out loud at home, so I get a lot of practice. I’ve always thought my reading voice was pitched a little high.
Ted, did you really just compare me to Rich Mullins? You’re my new best friend.
Steve, boy do I have you fooled. I’m no brave man. I just like poetry.
The poem was a little..syruppy, though. *grin*
I agree. Our culture wants us to contain all emotions and expressions of them-just be mediocre.
How ’bout a little color in our lives? A little honesty and reality?
Great insight.