#27: SPLASH!

The Artist's Logbook Week 9

Synchronicity is a big thing in the Artist’s Way.

Is it a coincidence that one of my closest friend’s Birthday celebration will take me to Hamburg to see Kae Tempest?

Is it a coincidence that I have been introduced to all sorts of musicians who want to play music behind my words?

Is it a coincidence that I am going through a break up and have all this time and energy and pain to create with?

What is happening in your life that seems surreal , coincidental and almost out of a movie? Follow it! Listen! Listen! Listen! Therein lies your gumption. I promise.

This week I leave you with the terribly great Charles Bukowski.

Today’s poem ‘Splash’ is, single handedly, the most influential piece of writing that opened me up to the poet within. I love how accessible his poems are.

May it open up something in you as well. Scroll below to read Splash.

---

Sunday Gratitude 🙏

This one goes out to my homeboy Khaled Sallam, who introduced me to Charles Bukowski as well as many terribly great things in life. Thank you for your unwavering friendship and support in both life and art. I miss you and can’t wait to be reunited with you soon.

---

The Artist's Way Week 9

---

Morning Pages ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅

Easy peasy. Next week I'll have to read them all according to the book. (read: Holy Shit)

Artist's Date

Went to my 5th open mic night. This time I sang one of my poems (getting ballsy by the day) and was in stage next to the incredible Stacie Blanke who honored me by performing my poem Art.

---

Craft Updates ✅

• My heart break poems revised edition is out to my Beta readers again. Getting closer to the finish line.

• 4 episodes of Gumpcast edited and passed on to production! 2 more recorded this week. So much fun. Expect a release date soon!

---

Anyways…here is:

“Splash” by Charles Bukowski

the illusion is that you are simply
reading this poem.
the reality is that this is
more than a
poem.
this is a beggar’s knife.
this is a tulip.
this is a soldier marching
through Madrid.
this is you on your
death bed.
this is Li Po laughing
underground.
this is not a god-damned
poem.
this is a horse asleep.
a butterfly in
your brain.
this is the devil’s
circus.
you are not reading this
on a page.
the page is reading
you.
feel it?
it’s like a cobra.
it’s a hungry eagle circling the room.

this is not a poem. poems are dull,
they make you sleep.

these words force you
to a new
madness.

you have been blessed, you have been pushed into a
blinding area of
light.

the elephant dreams
with you
now.
the curve of space
bends and
laughs.

you can die now.
you can die now as
people were meant to
die:
great,
victorious,
hearing the music,
being the music,
roaring,
roaring,
roaring.

“Splash” by Charles Bukowski, Betting on the Muse

Wow, you goddamn evil genius. 
Thank you Bukowski, thank you. 

✌️+ ❤️

Omar