As people upped the ante calling for Trump's impeachment, I got busier.
What Rough Beast is the poem-a-day project that exists so long as Trump is in office. I've contributed a few since it's creation, and in recent months, I have let loose with my series of "Jesus Tanka" poems. In the last year alone, I've published over 29 poems with What Rough Beast. The majority of which were written between August and now. They would have never existed if it wasn't for Michael Broder providing me this outlet.
There's a reason why it's a mixed blessing? I have a massive body of work that repels a good deal of people, fellow poets and artists included. They would disgust a good number of people close and dear to me on a visual level alone.
What Rough Beast uses a graphic for all its postings. It is an upside down American flag. It is clip art, not a photo of an actual flag. This alone has given me much grief.
From Wikipedia: "Displaying a U.S. flag upside down is a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property...It has been used by extension to make a statement about distress in civic, political, or other areas" Yes, it has been viewed as desecration (also noted in the Wikipedia entry), but that is not the intent of any work I've had published alongside this graphic.
It sucks that all the people I care about see is that graphic and hate it outright. And if they looked past the art and read the Jesus references, their minds wouldn't change anyway.
The older I get, the more I try to create work that makes a difference, the more polarizing work I produce. I can't help it. I can't stop. I won't stop publishing at What Rough Beast. I won't stop writing about what I want to write about.
I just wish it was easier.
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