Transmetropolitan Inspired

After reading the entire comic book series Transmetropolitan, I was, only naturally, very inspired. This series of graphic novels is highly creative and intelligent, while equally crass, banal and disgusting. It is completely forthright, and there is so much beauty in that brutal honesty. This is the style and tone this poem took on as it desperately poured out of me onto the paper. It is unlike anything else that I have ever written. Thanks Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson!

Trail of Breathing Parts

A mess of

Cells, constantly

Multiplying, burning

Dying and falling

Away, like it never meant anything.

Stretch marks, ingrown

Hairs, moles, freckles

Varicose veins, laugh

Lines bring comfort-

This trail of breathing parts.

Because I’m holding…

It all in-

Everyday now, holding it

In because I can’t, I won’t,

I don’t know how to release this-

The Straw man I ingest and attempt

To digest, everyday,

Now. In what package, what

Form of delivery will you accept

What must be expelled, returned,

Reused by another- in what form

Will you accept me… as a real human being?

So I walk through the day to finish

The day and say what I have to

Say, just to get by as

A real human being.

But I take that solo.

Take. And take it

Far from the melody, so to feel

A genuine emotion, not one

Masked by spit

Flying from lips or smiles

Slathered in robotic sweetness.

I want what I want in the moment

Before and I come to

Tears for each moment I wish

Was mine but

May never be, no never be

As me,

As I am today, tonight, right now,

Or ever…

I pretend I become a comic book Goddess.

Perfect form:

A ten with a wicked grin and the just right

Comeback to tear all your, all my

Lies to bits,

Bits to exhale in a hearty belly

Laugh at my intoxicating dry wit…

But my stretch marks bring

Me back, you know,

Because they never disappear.

Without science or pretend,

They’re always there

Declaring I’m a real

Human being.

©Copyright 2004 Joanna Brown