A T Bockholdt

A T Bockholdt Dec 2017

On the weathered pier of Huntington
laid upon the salt licked beach,
the old, hull of a forgotten
ship. Split, for its wooden fruit. The juice
of our sweat becoming mist
while we walked the plank,
in suspense, between clouds and sea.
The knotted surface sore
from sun. Burnt backs float
on the waters of their green veins,
like Guamamela1 on the ***** river
banks. “NO ACCESS,” signs in red
and white lights, harshly beating
against the dark skin of the wood,
the memory of another life.
I remember, my Lolo and Lola
bending to the waves of people
pressed still in one space.
The one time, they could hold onto
my hands, I felt them shaking.
In tongues they resurrected
the island, said there none
of this exists.
Why did I laugh?

1. Filipino hibiscus

This is part of collection for a senior portfolio project at CU Denver
Project is intended to represent the stylistic distinctions of great American poets through the imitation of their poetics and/or their subject matter

James Wright wrote on the "outcasts," of society in an attempt to capture the sentimental loneliness that the disenfranchised members of society felt. This poem works to capture the feelings that my Lolo and Lola have felt their entire lives as Filipino Immigrants into America. Using free verse, I have created a narrative story that marries the surreal aspects of memory and reality. Wright also used very purposeful punctuation to enhance the simple rhetoric he uses in his poems which I also attempt to exemplify in this poem.

#wright #culture #heritage #filipino #beach #disparity #hibiscus #flower #piers #california

A T Bockholdt Dec 2017

homage to my gold hoops

so cool and gold
these hoops dance,
on the edge
of my shoulders.
they match, my skin.
they set fire,
to your son.
they are loved.
they are loud,
against my ears.
they are the only
cuffs, ill ever wear
these. gold hoops
are always proud,
oh, yes, my gold
hoops, give me power.
they swing with my step,
glint with my smile,
circle around your mind and
leave you to hang.

This is part of collection for a senior portfolio project at CU Denver
Project is intended to represent the stylistic distinctions of great American poets through the imitation of their poetics and/or their subject matter

Lucille Clifton is an important feminist, as well as, racial writer. Her works encompass the conscious break from traditional standards which she exhibits in the playful brevity of her poetry, and purposeful lack of punctuation. "homage to my hips," is one of her most anthologized poems representative of her power as a black woman in the world. My imitation, "homage to my gold hoops," are representative of my own race-*** relations in the world I live in. The negative connotation that gold hoops have gained over time (e.g. "the bigger the hoop the bigger the ***") is an example of removing power from a female object and lending it to the male point of view. In this poem, as I do everyday, I take this power back with my gold hoops.

#asian #clifton #imitation #feminism #homage #power #female #male #*** #pride

A T Bockholdt Dec 2017

My Mother Called to Say

Cold coffee
spilled jam
blackberry

punched stains
on white
skin

wash away
the sweet
sweat

and clean
the bed
sheets

I want
more than
you

hope calls
one ring
echoes

between us
I reach
you

leave instead
“I am
alone.”

On the
other end
nothing

which might
be better
when

nothing means
exactly the
same

when he’s
here or
not.

Breaking silence
a sigh
“Oh,

my Dear
what a
waste.”

This is part of collection for a senior portfolio project at CU Denver
Project is intended to represent the stylistic distinctions of great American poets through the imitation of their poetics and/or their subject matter

Another Plath imitation, "My Mother Called to Say," is another poem reflecting the anxieties of being female dependent on only being "whole," and created through a man's desire.

#plath #imitation #coffee #mother #feminism #alone #***

A T Bockholdt Dec 2017

Sugar Daddy

Big lipped Daddy
slitting yellow paper
and confetti.

Wrapped up caramel caddy
******* down to
the white bone.

Surprisingly even when I am not writing poetry for classes, I am writing poetry for myself!

"Sugar Daddy," is a play on the predatorial relationship that has recently arisen in popularity due to media culture and accessibility. The relationship that can be felt between the "Daddy," and the "Baby," can be demoralizing and make the "Baby," feel like nothing more than candy for the taking. The title and poem is playing off of Sugar Daddy candy that is, of course, enjoyed, until there is nothing left, and then thrown away-

#sugar #daddy #feminism #relationships

A T Bockholdt Dec 2017

Getting a Haircut

Right Downtown where
buildings scrape blue skies
and leaves share
their space on the cement,

A vagrant just on the end of 10th
dances wildly capturing high-class sentiments
he throws wide arcs of brown shrouds
and falls with practiced elegance,

the city waltz between trees,
the jazz swing stepped proud,
in harmony with the breeze
your lolling head beats

out an ancient melody.
You belong to the streets.
You creak at the knee.
You smile right at me.

Between the glass pane
you see mine and wink,
you are perfectly framed—
I never do look away.

If you weren’t all
that I am not
so free
would I have seen

the officer turn the street
his rigid blue uniform taut
like his skin and hard
like his eyes?

Officer! I wish I could’ve
screamed, would you
had heard me? Turned a cheek?
Street dancer, city slicker,

You were everything—
****, the way he tapped his feet
floating high, mesmerized,
stunned, I just watched

sitting in a leather chair
hair dye dripping blood red,
his cracked lips flare
a smile turned cross

he falls onto the cement
he goes home colored red
he fills the cracks
he is dead.

This is part of collection for a senior portfolio project at CU Denver
Project is intended to represent the stylistic distinctions of great American poets through the imitation of their poetics and/or their subject matter

"Getting a Haircut," is an imitation poem of the poet, Gwendolyn Brooks. Her poetry hones in on the political outcry of her time and uses accessible language to convey narratives of the everyday people. This is a true poem that uses her poetic form of narrative ballads to tell the story of a homeless man shot and killed outside of a salon I was getting a haircut at. Brooks is influenced by Langston Hughes with her rhythm and blues that is seen in the flow of her poetry, sound, and style.

#jazz #rhythm #blues #hughes #brooks #imitation #poetry #city #fall #homeless

A T Bockholdt Dec 2017

Enacting Imitation

Jorge

still in the night he
does not remember why
—sounds of her sighs

her small ears
pressing into the tight
space of the day

or the tenderness between
him and her
held in the air

the repeated denial
of the time set chained
to hold their plans

were revolting against
trysts
spent in another’s gaze

2. Sebastian

the tenacious sense in
arrangement
lets slip imitation

how I could possess
your breath
and bear it

delicately freeing
my stances
I strained

in celebration
at the sanctification
that you’d
granted to Saint Sebastian
in Irene’s
blessing

will healing hands make
poetry
or trap the shaking

of my languid silver pens
taut but not
ready

3. Carlos

the sweet words
brought
for the lovers

that beats hard
each
hesitance

leaps
without fear
regarding

that
their time is
now here

the shape that
your
sighs take

suggesting
as if
limits don’t exist

This is part of collection for a senior portfolio project at CU Denver
Project is intended to represent the stylistic distinctions of great American poets through the imitation of their poetics and/or their subject matter

In this three section poem, "Enacting Imitation," I work to closely mirror William Carlos Williams poem "3 Stances." Williams uses enjambment to subtly infuse multiple meanings into his sparse lines. Williams poetry also enacts a metaphysical level that allows the reader to see the poet's space of thinking and anxieties in writing which we see in "Danse Russe," wherein Williams finds freedom in writing for himself. I also use his ideas of the variable foot to employ certain rhythmic tones and speeds into this imitation.

#william #carlos #williams #poetry #modern #imitation #3stances

— The End —