excrescence of the new world

"Excrescence of the New World," March 2, 2022 (#61)

title from UH student paper (2022)

first line from PVA student story (2022)

Ideas of Heaven by Joan Silber (2004)

The Ring of Brightest Angels Around Heaven by Rick Moody (1995)

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman (2009)

"Mars Is Heaven" by Ray Bradbury (1948)

"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin (1971)

"Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan (1973)

"Heaven Is Closed" by Willie Nelson (2018)

"Cheek to Cheek" by Fred Astaire (1935)

Excrescence of the New World

The sky here is as blank as a confused face.

It came from the stars and the black velocities, and the

mouthful of carp while this conversation was going on, and I

wouldn't agree to the party, especially when it became clear I was serious.

With a little effort you can strike up convivial small talk. Just be aware that

your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know

that cold black cloud is comin' down

for reasons that's hard to explain

and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west:

feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Let's burn one for those who think they're in heaven,

and I seem to find the happiness I seek

exposed in their sadness now but other feelings were part of the

same planet that was my own habitation? A patriotic frenzy had turned these

into your multiple selves at all possible ages. The you that existed as a single

member of the crew with a mother on one arm

was all fucked up because it had been shot over the course of

fifteen minutes without losing the beat. I had to run.

2-29-20

12-19-20

3-6-20

2-25-22 HSPVA

2-25-22 HSPVA

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo 1536-1541

3-2-22