ANOTHER APPEARANCE ON WRITER'S INFUSION

ANNOUNCEMENT: this is non-poetry-related but it does have to do with writing. Writer's Infusion recently invited me back on their show, this time to be a guest critiquer (is that a word?). In this webisode, we read a screenplay submission adapted from the novel Go by John Clellon Holmes. Go is said to be the first novel born out of the Beat movement in the 1950s. We all act out the parts during the read-through and then offer constructive criticism afterwards.

GOD GIVES BETTER BLOWJOBS

GOD GIVES BETTER BLOWJOBS

by matt burns

So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. 

- Matthew 6:2

As Jesus stood on the mount, the people gathered and listened:

"You men in uniform run the marathon in memory of the bombing victims...
You don't wear the proper clothing
So you almost pass out from heat exhaustion
You don't wear the proper shoes
So you have nasty shin splints by the end
And your knees may need surgery.
But you get pats on the back
And all the girls want to give you blowjobs
Even some of the guys
Straight guys
Big, sloppy, nice blowjobs
With little or no teeth.

From one man to another
Hats off to you, brothers.
But I tell you the truth:
The blowjobs you get from Man
Do 
Not 
Compare
To the blowjobs you get from God."

MASTERING THE HUMAN CONDITION

MASTERING THE HUMAN CONDITION
by matt burns

You've mastered the human condition
When you're sober
When you're present
And when you're happy while you're sober and present

It takes an effort
But I can be sober
It takes an effort
But I can be present
Happiness, however, can't be worked at
It can be faked
But that doesn't make a master out of me
It just has to be there without effort

Effortless happiness feels impossible right now
I strive and strive for the happiness
I wanna be master now!
Let's get this over with now!
But striving is effort
It should just be there 
And it isn't

So it's impossible to master the human condition right now
But I'm still pretty young
Maybe the happiness will just appear some day
There is still time to become master
Being patient is key to masterdom
Though it also sucks balls

GROANING LIKE FRANKENSTEIN

GROANING LIKE FRANKENSTEIN
by matt burns

Carbon monoxide killed the family while they slept in their Maryland home.
oooooooooooh
A cop in South Carolina is charged with murder after shooting a black man.
uuummmhhhh
Russian spies are behind the hacking of White House computers.
uuuuuuuuuuh
Isis is using social media to recruit American women.
uuummmmmhhhhhh oooooooooooh uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh

Frankenstein is not watching the news.
The sounds are coming out of me
Involuntarily.
O misery!

The terrorist at the news desk 
has mastered his intonation of fright.
My primal buttons 
of fear 
and loathing 
Are pressed just right.
He has me wrapped around his finger 
oh so tight.
If I don't keep groaning like a miserable Frankenstein
I'll feel so guilty tonight.

PINS AND NEEDLES, NOT MUSIC AND CUTTING

PINS AND NEEDLES, NOT MUSIC AND CUTTING
by matt burns

They film the bio documentary about me.
I feel the pins and needles while they film.
They finish the film and air it.
The music and cutting Romanticizes my reality.
The viewing-audience thinks my life's so magical.
There's definitely nothing magical about my life.
There's just the silent pins and needles of uncut reality.
There's no music and cutting.

THE HIGH GETS ME LOW

THE HIGH GETS ME LOW
by matt burns

I do have the capacity
To arrive at the highest level of truth
But this doesn't happen
When I fill myself with low substances
Like caffeine
              Nicotine
                        Alcohol
                                   Junk
                                         Food
                                                Et
                                                  Al

I consume the low to get me high
But the higher I get
The further I
                   get
                       from
                              the
                                 tru
                                    t
                                     h

WHAT THE DEMON WANTS

WHAT THE DEMON WANTS
by matt burns

The demon wants
A perpetual state
Of seeking
And searching
For revenge
For retaliation
For closure
For justice

It will set up situations
Where there's 
No 
Hope
Of obtaining
Any of the above

You have to rise above it all
And not seek
Or search
For any of it
Even when you're convinced
You deserve 
It
All

If you keep seeking
And searching
Forever
The demon
Eats away at you
With nasty maggots
And worms
You decompose
Rot to pieces
And the 
Creepy
Crawly
Demon 
W
i
n
ssssssssssssssssssssssssss