She looked like Ivory soap
and bubblegum
when I knew her, in that time
before tattoos and attitude,
too small for her guitar
singing Shy into the mic
her chords an electric spine
for muscled words
denying any smallness
the T-shirts say
Ani FUCKING DiFranco
because she sings about cunt
as easy as Orion, or eyes;
the saudade she sings
into fuck yous
changes insult to longing,
because she knows
before they were art
they were just words,
sound to curl phrasing around
less shock and more awe
if you listen
Oh! Most definitely, you have captured her, I can see her swaying…
Thanks, Shrinks. This is just a rough out. To think, we used to do poetry readings and acoustic folk at the local bar together 😉
She was just a baby, but DAMN, she had it even then.
You knew her?! Everyone knows everybody…
Hee, hee. Yep. Cut my teeth reading poetry in the bar that first let her play.
Amazing!
Buffalo is a very small town 😉
There are no strangers–just people we haven’t met yet or don’t remember meeting.
Porcelain skin with words that rolled off her tongue so easily. I enjoyed the clip and your words Sus.
Aw, thanks, Jen. She is amazing.
Wow. Thanks for the clip and the poem.
Usually the word ” fuck” makes me cringe in poetry and song. “Fuck” is banged about like a worn out tambourine too often. I’ve come to hear it as a person who lacks the skill to say anything.
But this time “fuck you” made me smile. Amazing.
Poetry reading opportunities. Must look for those.
Alice
Alice, I thought of you and your book burners as I wrote this. I don’t like using language in my poetry without a reason, and this woman, this one turns it into art.
Yes. Hers is lovely. There are places for all words. So often swearing is only the popping off of little mouth farts. Simply bad taste and smell with no solid shit. Heavens. I must be tired. I’m chuckling to myself like a scatologically inclined ten year old as I write.
Hee, hee. My colored (or stinky) language made you cuss…smiles.
Susan. Made me. Oh yes. I often (not) give others control of my word generator. 😉
I grew up in a family where teaching babies to swear was considered the ultimate of clever. Then I went into construction work. The guys on my crew made sure I got a whole NEW vocabulary. They had similar motives of inferred cleverness.
Much much later, I had kids and cleaned up my verbal act (And got rid of my gun and sold the hot tub). Probably cleaned up too well. My 17 year old son considers “crap” to be “strong language.;-)
Alice
I prefer strong language to be without the usual four-letter fallbacks 😉
Here’s one without “blue” language you might like.
Wow. What energy and poetry. She shouts it our and smiles the whole time like she’s having fun. Fabulous.
Gotta love her 😉
I do.
Now I’m extra-honored that you liked my egg-ku Alice.
I too think that strong(foul) language is often a sign of a weak imagination, but sometimes….
I tend to think of it as a form of colloquialism, like ain’t, y’all, and cuz…
I even used “git” in a haiku this week. My husband/editor asked if I meant it. Yup. Heck yeh. You betcha.
An artist not quite given her due, she be. Would love to see her and Ferrick together.
Oh! That would be great. That song “Shy” is as old as my memories of her, believe it or not. What an artist.
Thank you Susan for the poem, and for introducing me to Ani DeFranco! I had never heard her before, but will check out more of her music.
Joseph, she is definitely worth it. Enjoy!
Yeah, baby!
I am going to bed now, to dream of people chasing me with Ivory soap bars…
haha, perfect
Something about “swearing” in print. It is a premeditated act, as opposed to one just flying out there…smiles.
Always loved Ani…truly big things come in small packages…real power…
JC, I agree. Quite the powerhouse.
nicely done. her language gets an A+…*L*…:)
I so agree..big smiles….
I liked this, Susan. I remember being introduced to Ani DiFranco’s music by female friends of mine when I was about 15. I admit, I did not know quite what to think of her then. I have much more of an appreciation now.
I remember being intensely amused when she did this song:
Oh, I love her tone in this!
Indeed!
I have never heard anyone sing so well with tongue firmly in cheek 😉
I love her version.
I had not thought of this song in years. . . thank you for reminding me. I think today will be the day that my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek.
Oh, please do write about it!