When I set out to make my first monster poem, I intended to create a parody of Steven’s ‘Man with the Blue Guitar” called ‘Blue Scream’ although I toyed with, “I Know What You Did With That Blue Guitar Last Summer, Man” but this was too lucid for my purpose. Keeping true to the genera, I would write some crazy lines, jumping in and out of random scenes, employ ridiculous fonts, feisty monster specimens, and heavy on the irrational … etceteras. For lack of an appropriate tone, I came across the classic ‘makers’ dilemma: I reached the production phase and lacked every critical element for my beautiful idea. I needed to create life from scraps. Thus my first monster poem became a true to life monster.

A few days into writing I realized I was sunk. I had about five pages of crap I intended for filler, and this was all I had. So, I made the stereotypical decision many poets in the monster/horror genre make: work with what you have; focusing on: (drum-roll please) special effects. This decision I felt made my poem true unto itself. Without plot or talent, many modern poets focus simply on the look of the page through impressive visual effects. I found my poem and myself in a situation that called specifically for this strategy: WOW the reader with FX and hope they don’t notice the lack of substance.

Like many monster poems this was ambiguous, undefined, and unidentifiable, and lacking in plot and character. Once I’d put together the poem, title and all, the decision to use impressive visuals was the right one. It is only reasonable for visuals to enter our poetry. For comfort we come to moving pictures as the voice of the USA; this is the heart of entertainment. This as a next step for poetry bonds the vivacious word to the immediacy of the image. The irrational imagination embracing instrumental fear … images only feed the mysterious.

I set out to make a monster poem, not a poem about monsters. The combination fit my purpose, I do have some personal regrets, though. In the end, the decision to focus on special effects fully realized the experience, making the final product genuine. And provided an excellent opportunity to use some effects filters, like ghost trails I’d been dying to try. So, now we must decide, when monsters enter our poetry, do we run to them or do we run far,

                                         far,

                                           away?

                                              enjoy :-)

 

Geoffrey Gatza
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