Modern Absurdity is the new collection of poetry by Joseph Fulkerson. It is a collection of previously unpublished poetry, selections from out of print small press chapbooks, and a new and revised edition of Snout Chasing Tail.
Modern Absurdity is the new collection of poetry by Joseph Fulkerson. It is a collection of previously unpublished poetry, selections from out of print small press chapbooks, and a new and revised edition of Snout Chasing Tail.
Stonks!
The experts are convinced
it's a bull market
or maybe a bear market
either way
they're certain it's a mammal
with four legs, possibly hooves
but to be safe
they're not ruling out claws.
They are convinced
trickle-down economics does work
but only if you have a white collar
-or-
if you've ever attended a
three martini lunch meeting
even more so if you can
write it off as a business expense.
Choosing to buy into this
provides a guarantee of residual income
& a lifetime of resentment
& complacency.
The fix is in;
I'd be remiss if I didn't state the obvious.
A metric shit-ton of regret is in store for
you, mister.
You can't deny
the devil has the best deal
when it comes to plea deals.
He’ll get you prime real-estate
on the 9th green of the
9th circle.
You’ll be a scapegoat
the fall guy
caught red-handed
holding a red herring.
You'll be first in line for an ass-whooping
& last in line for your parole hearing.
If the road to hell is paved with
good intentions, then the road to heaven
is littered with anal fissures.
The saying goes “if you mess with the bull
you get the horns.”
They failed to mention the bull cock.
You’re prime ass, prime meat
in prime time
delicate sensibilities are a delicacy
in the prison yard.
You’ll be sewing golden parachutes
into white collars
in your sleep
in no time.
It’s a bull market after all.
Or was it bear?
Luck Favors the Risk Takers
although
I’ll venture
a guess
the corpse
at
the
bottom
of the chasm
would disagree with that statement
Wrong in all the Right Places
People claim they want honesty
but they're scared of the truth.
They want advice without an opinion.
They want their courage tested
without the struggle
associated with it.
They want patience
& they want it now!
They want talent
yet are unwilling to put in the work
necessary to bring it forth.
It hurts wrong in all the right places.
This eclectic collection of poetry explores themes centered on the idea that life is irrational, illogical, incongruous, and without reason. Entries are organized into four basic groups: Snout Chasing Tail, Uncollected, Point of Diminishing Returns, and Asleep at the Wheel.
Told largely from the first person POV, there is a wellspring of emotion in this collection. It is sharp and at times acerbic. Terse, brisk verse conveys anger, bitterness, frustration, despair, ambition, fear, hopes and dreams. The collection also explores some themes of loneliness, restlessness, isolation, and regret.
There are some strong lines and vivid word pictures such as those drawn in Lost in Translation, Volcano Tears and The Mechanism. Others, not so much. Entries like Screaming Into the Night and Sweet Symphony will resonate with writers. These people will also recognize the deep pool of emotion described in these particular entries as they relate to the writing craft. Indeed, there is a great deal of openness and transparency in this work which opens a window into the writer’s perspective on various aspects of life, relationships, politics, and Bigger Questions.
It is important to note that “absurdism” or “absurd” is a term used to describe the nonsensical, irrational aspects of life and that which is devoid of purpose. Thus, the verses in this collection do not fit into the pre-packaged, cellophane-wrapped cotton candy type. Indeed, there is little here that is tranquil, sanguine, or serene. Entries are typically hard-edged and flinty or truculent. Some readers will find the contents depressing and dark.
So Modern Absurdity is not going to be everyone’s cuppa. If you are looking for a collection of poetry that is sublime and uplifting, this is not it. And it does not pretend to be. However, if you gravitate toward something edgier, rougher, and more cynical, then Modern Absurdity resonates.
Modern Absurdity is described as a “new collection of poetry” that includes “previously unpublished poetry” and “selections from out-of-print small press chapbooks.” It is about six thousand words and contains “mild explicitly content.”