There is nothing funnier than the human animal.
Walt Disney
Many of my poems, although humorous, are also social commentary. I have fun examining, exaggerating and satirizing human foibles. Humor drives much of my poetry as does imagery, rhythms, sounds, my own senses – and a love of language of course. All of these are the initial generators of my ideas before I discover as I work, more levels of thought.
Poems certainly come from within me but are also, reactions to what’s outside of me. They are combinations of my inner language, inner intuitions, inner humor and inner images – plus a good deal of risk-taking. That’s where humor comes in. What seems funny to me might very likely, seem funny to you as well – but, on the other hand, it might not. Humor is risky and it is a chance that I tend to take because it comes from my spontaneous reaction to what often seems to me, in varying degrees, ridiculous.
My poem titled, “None of Them are Me!” which is in my poetry collection “There’s a Light at the End of My Muddle” sprung from my thoughts about how much time some people choose to spend on their image solely for public consumption, be that image political, physical or both, rather than on devoting their time to making truly substantive, worthwhile contributions to society.
None of Them are Me!
Which hairstyle should I choose?
A Hairoplane,
A Hairocar,
A Haironaut,
A Hairostar?
A Hairoship,
A Hairoschooner,
A Hairmobile,
A Hairocrooner,
A Hairocycle,
A Hairo-2-decker,
A Hairo-coach,
A Hairo-discotequer?
A Hairo-to-infinity?
A Hairo-to-sublimity?
A Hairo-of-possibility?
I know!
A hairo
that’s just me!
Bleu Oleander, a Machinima artist, whose work I admire immensely, connected to my words in this poem, None of Them are Me! and using the actual poem, created her witty interpretation of my character’s serious ponderations about a hairstyle in a Machinima titled Self-Image!
I laughed out loud when I saw Bleu’s Machinima art creation and thought about her sense of humor. I also thought about my own; why do some of my poems make me laugh when I write them, read them again and in this case, look at them again? Does it mean that they are, indeed, funny – or only amusing to me? I have a propensity to think funny and to pop all too often, outside a general view of things. For me, humor has not only been largely an important ingredient of my everyday life, but also of my creativity – and I do think of Bleu’s creativity as well.
‘There’s a Light at the End of My Muddle’.
What a compelling title, Ellen, for a collection of your poems!
One can just imagine you smiling broadly, inwardly and outwardly, as you create your word sculptures. How appealing they are–as Bleu Oleander clearly found!
The ‘human animal’ has such a uniquely broad spectrum of sides, and humor is surely one of the very best!
Thank you, Ellen and Bleu Oleander, for a journey from LOL to other levels of thought.
I just had my waist-length hair cut and am wondering if I am really me.
That is so funny, Juanita – wondering if you are really you after a seemingly, drastic haircut! Thank you for your comments and thank you for yours, John. I love Bleu Oleander’s Machinima artwork and her interpretation of my poem. You are right, John: “humor is surely one of the very best” of “the human animal’s’… uniquely broad spectrum of sides”.
Wonderful “hair-raising” poetry Ellen, and enjoyed very much Bleu Oleander’s imaginative video. Great combination you two creating together, carry on!