The Muse Who Wrote Poetry

As students, we are presented with poetry in the most complex forms, causing a sort of alert to go off every time poetry is approached.  Poets had structure, and parameters to stay within, and then the avant-guardists hit, throwing the perfect techniques utilized out the window and creating a lack of limitations as to what can be poetry, and who a poet was.  

Using different techniques led to different types of outcomes in the poems that were produced.  One poet in particular, Alice Prin, also known as Kiki de Montparnasse, wrote in a way that left every feeling on the paper.  She would write the thoughts that came to her, allowing them to flow out through the pen.  If she came across something she did not want to keep for the final product she would cross the line out, leaving it there for the viewer, but yet separating it.  

Man Ray in front of a portrait of Kiki

Kiki served as a muse to many, but her personal life is sometimes overshadowed by the magnetic effect she had on artists that surround her life.  She did paint, and wrote her own autobiography in her 20's that was published and read as a document of the sought after world she was so involved in.  As a poet, she is even less known, leaving the poetry she has written only in her published books.  For being such a sought after woman in the modern age, she has almost been forgotten outside of Man Ray. 

Sitting in a busy airport, I attempted to write in this way, leaving behind the exact forms that are given to us, and just writing everything down. (My homage to Kiki) I continuously crossed out the lines that I did not see to fit upon completion of it as I carried on writing.  The final product:

Portrat of Kiki by Man Ray

Sitting 

Cold hard ground

Just laying there beneath you----

Band of light in front

Crossing the tips of your toes

Waiting

The warmth is coming-----

A once upon a time

The crossover

Warmth without that. 

Light hits

Blinds---

This place I've never been 

Now

- Rashel, 2012