Pastry Glaze - OAI Submission

     Before I say anything, this actually happened about a month ago so I'm really behind. I must say I was meaning to be slightly more active with this blogging thing, but school, work, and Netflix have definitely taken the upper hand. Nonetheless, here I am. Back to let whoever know about whatever I deem necessary. In this case, it is an audition -- a writing audition for Oklahoma's Summer Arts Institute. Being in my high school band, playing percussion and wishing to attend college as a Music Education major, I naturally chose to audition in creative writing and photography. This particular audition was for creative writing. In fact, the photography audition is tomorrow so wish me luck.

     OAI's creative writing program has a strong emphasis on poetry. I had an idea for a piece about a boy who was bored in class, but was trying to desperately to stay attentive. His effort was of course fruitless and begins to daydream of a circus. It might just be better if I provide you the whole thing. Keep in mind, I was given a mere two hours to produce this work and I consider myself novice at best. 

But anyway, here it is.

*****

Pastry Glaze  

Eraser set to paper
But not erasing rather
Bouncing
Periodically
Rhythmically
A tempo that would concern
Even the most skillful of drum corps

Eyes laid waste
On she who fancies herself
An educator
Vigorously swiping
At that which fancies itself 
A chalkboard

Walrus of a woman
Whose jiggling matches the intensity
Of the eraser's nervous pecking   
As she shows the wall no mercy
With her lance of cured, white dust                                                                                                         

She belongs in a circus

A carnival of sorts

Where the boy once restless

Now dreams of strolling

Past queer displays of "Bearded Ladies!"

And "Le Singe Royale"

He finds himself seated

In a tent that does well

To impede the clouds' traffic

Where the world is packed

Like sardines are typically canned

It's a marvelous show

Of elephants maintaining balance

On inflated rubber balls

The crowd cheers through their sardine gills

When acrobats file out 

Doing stunts off the backs of speeding stallions

Landing on each other's shoulders

"Pastry?"

The boy takes it

"Certainly!"

And the vendor is on his way

To find somebody else he might persuade

Then a bell -- it rings

Periodically, intensely it rings

Ear-splittingly so -- it rings

Until the donut glaze flakes

From the pupil's pupils

Revealing empty chairs

And a board murdered by chalk

*****

     I was lucky I was able to even write about what I did. We were required to find inspiration in a series of photos or objects that were provided by the monitor and write down the respective number for that piece of art or object. As I said, I had been thinking about the premise to my poem a few days before the day of the audition, so I could only pray there would be something provided that could spark something in my mind that had anything to do with school or a circus. 

     As it turns out, the second or third photo I say was titled Monkey King and portrayed a monkey wearing a crown. I was nothing short of relieved and was even able to work the monkey into the poem as "Le Singe Royale" which is French for "The Royal Monkey". I used the photo and threw in some multi-culturalism. Take that Oklahoma Arts Institute! I find out mid-April or so if I made the cut or not, so I'll be sure to let whoever you are know what happens.