Florid Psychosis
by Bill Yarrow
On the advice of a friend, I've stopped
dreaming. As a result, I've developed
a florid psychosis in which everything
I've dreamed for the last thirty-three years
is now real. I have new friends, a new job,
my dead relatives have all come back, I'm
half my weight, have all my hair, reside in
Prague. It's February 1924. Kafka won't die
until June. Freud's 67. He's just published
The Ego and the Id. My superego refuses
to read it. Lotte Reiniger is working on
the cutouts for Prince Achmed. I bought
a radio embroidered with pearls. I tuned it
to the future, but it only plays the sleepy past.
dreaming. As a result, I've developed
a florid psychosis in which everything
I've dreamed for the last thirty-three years
is now real. I have new friends, a new job,
my dead relatives have all come back, I'm
half my weight, have all my hair, reside in
Prague. It's February 1924. Kafka won't die
until June. Freud's 67. He's just published
The Ego and the Id. My superego refuses
to read it. Lotte Reiniger is working on
the cutouts for Prince Achmed. I bought
a radio embroidered with pearls. I tuned it
to the future, but it only plays the sleepy past.
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Author's Note
A version of this poem appeared as part of a 2010 e-book entitled "Wound Jewelry" published by new aesthetic
If you've never seen Lotte Reininger's The Adventures of Prince Achmed, put it in your Netflix queue. Made in 1926 and still completely mind-blowing.
The poem appears in Pointed Sentences (BlazeVOX, 2012).
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Love this, Bill. Love the idea of it, the wonderful oddness of it and that pearl embroidered radio playing the sleepy past. And this is hilarious:
"He's just published the Ego and the Id. My superego refuses to read it." Ha!
Fave.
Agree with Kathy re: the superego, but also loved this: "I have new friends, a new job,
my dead relatives have all come back,"
I hope I keep dreaming! *
I like how the outward shell of the piece is very prosaic, very anti-poetic in terms of language - yet you've used a subtle touch with poetic sound here ... playing with and against: stopped/developed ... everything / back I'm / reside in / working on ... won't die / I bought ... published / sleepy past.
Good piece, Bill. I like this a great deal. Wonderful subject - and connection with the film.
I meant to add that I think this is one of your best pieces.
inventive
"It's February 1924."
Well, isn't it? Bill does it again, without a net, even. Bravo!
very nice.
i agree with most of the comments that are already here, but want to add that i *really* like last lines about the radio.
yes, love that radio, lowe this piece. *
Excellent, Bill. The writing is tight. The premise is neat and what you do with it is quite unique and enjoyable.
Just a wonderful trip, Bill. You get an A for imagination, an A+ for the tale.
well i like it but i've taken the liberty of re-writing here, ha.
It's February 1924. Kafka won't die
until June. Freud's 67. He's just published The Ego and the Id. My superego refuses to read it. Lotte Reininger is working on the cutouts for Prince Achmed. I bought
a radio embroidered with pearls. I tuned it to the future, but it only plays the sleepy past. On the advice of a friend, I've stopped
dreaming. But as a result, I've developed a florid psychosis in which everything I've dreamed for the last thirty-three years
is now real. I have new friends, a new job, my dead relatives have all come back, I'm half my weight, have all my hair, reside in Prague.
i don't know why the break after stopped. no break after stopped.
now i want to pull out every other word and see what happens. this is really good bill
Fave!
Bill, this is so so wonderful.
goodness, that radio embroidered in pearls.
Florid Psychosis!
wound jewelry--
i SO love the concept of that
a pearl for every burn, a diamond for every crack, a necklace for every broken spot, a blood bracelet to catch what escapes, unbidden--
Great images and movement, and I like the dry wit underlying this superb conceit.
But...isn't that "but" in the 2nd line superfluous?
Love this! The title is great ans says it all.
i really enjoyed riding in your time machine. florid indeed, lovely psychosis. creative delusions are the best. *
Beautiful construction throughout showing the majesty and power of poetry to move and provoke. Excellent.
Wonderful poetic time machine.
I love this purely and simply love this too much. i think if it were my piece I would have ended it with the line before you did, but that would have been a Meg decision. Brilliant. Favorite.
Like a time machine on speed. Everything perfetto, but then I'm partial to full-blown florid psychoses. Peace *
Brilliant, Bill, and very, very clever. Loved it!
fav
i love how poetry can be so honest in a reality-laden mythical way. this is excellent.
very clever. i thoroughly enjoyed it.
Way cool. You had me by line one, and never let go.
Good poem. I like "Freud's 67. He's just published
The Ego and the Id. My superego refuses
to read it."
Bill, this is so pretty and moves smoothly. I really love the thought behind it. *
coming back to this AGAIN. Really, just love it, Bill.
This is just awesome! So smart and so fun and so tight. Really a big fave.
I love the opening line - as if that could be possible! The turns of phrases are wickedly smart. Super clever writing Bill and yet, despite the fanciful notions, it has a wonderful grounded reality to it as well.
I love the way this poem pushes boundaries: of history, of psychology, of time, in language that rivals its subjects. *
Brilliant *!!
Perfect. Love it.
The emotion is visceral, and dream behind it tangible. Thank you again for sharing this wonderful expression of your soul.
In that florid psychosis, would you ask Freud to treat it?
Enjoyed the aspects of this very special past.
"I tuned it to the future, but it only plays the past."
S i g h.
I so get that.
Vunderbar.
Ah, the land of sleep deprivation, of waking dreaming. I know it well.
"On the advice of a friend, I've stopped
dreaming. As a result, I've developed
a florid psychosis..."
Fantastic, Bill
"florid" lines it all up. Thank you.
I can't believe you got this much done in so few lines. No wonder it's gotten so many accolades.
I'll add mine: *
Thanks, Smiley!
Superb -- love the radio reference. *