Because Patti Smith Wrote, "Bonsai! Bonsai! It's better to Write Then Die."

Poem of the Week

Because Patti Smith Wrote, "Bonsai! Bonsai! It's better to Write Then Die."

In a world 
where people willingly trade 
their dreams for security-
commit creative suicide 
for drive thru fast food
drive thru pharmacies
drive thru money machines
drive thru car wash
drive thru brain wash

lick the boots of the ruling class 
give them all the typewriters 
so they can hammer out
a script 
for how our lives will go 
trade the ability to think 
for comfort 
for a prescription
for a handgun 
for Big Brother's police 
who see the world
as black and white

endure election cycles
and annual anal exams 
from the IRS
trade your dignity 
for dead soldiers
and wars on manufactured terrorism 
numb yourself from the madness 
enjoy your shelter

but because Patti Smith wrote
"Bonsai! Bonsai!
It's better to write then die."

I promised myself 
that art is a switchblade- 
and I'll slit my throat 
before I ever
give up my pens

©Dan Denton 2016

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I wrote this poem several years ago after staying up until 2am to watch Patti Smith’s documentary “Dream of Life” for the first time. I had to work in the factory on the assembly line at 5:30am the next day, and during that shift, I wrote the bulk of this poem. Patti is undoubtedly one of my biggest influences as an artist.

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Yes, this is a rare time that the Poem of the Week wasn’t a poem that I wrote this week. I did write some poems this week, and they’re both pretty good, but this Patti Smith poem is one that I forgot about, and one I still love.

I’m in the middle of two huge art projects right now, one of which is a new novel, and I have a superstition of not counting projects until they’re completed, but fuck, I could use a two week residency and a million dollars about right now. But I’ll gladly settle for your well wishes and good vibes.

Here’s a collage I finished last week. It’s 16x20. I’ve been experimenting with making larger sized pieces. Can’t wait to talk more about collage later.

Love,

Dan

Ps. If you can and want to, only if you want to, you could support the Factory Poet with a little dough here. Rumor is that he’ll gladly send you books, chapbooks and letters of appreciation. Namaste.