alicubi journal :: this bastard modern era

I am in the process of writing my second book, Carpe Diego. It's all about seizing the surroundings of America's finest city. For example, there's the beautiful coast line, framed by the sandy cliffs and coves of La Jolla, Del Mar, Point Loma. To the east lies Cuyamaca State Park and the desert where I have spent the last few weeks roaming over delicate landscapes which display every shade of green.

The city itself boasts a beautiful bay whose waters reach the feet of skyscrapers, and appear much cleaner than the Thames of London which Wordsworth bragged about.

Do you think the idea of the 20th century rock star--the singer/songwriter, the lone genius, like Bob Dylan or Bowie--is analogous to the 19th century romantic poet? That the personality, lifestyle, and approach to art is the same?

Yes, I do! The front stage persona, the lone man with a single message, has its roots in the solitude that romantics such as Keats sought. Take the character of Ziggy Stardust, for example. This was a character that Bowie created. He was a man who had five years left to live, and only wished to be a rock n' roll star. He became the solitary rock star on center stage. The themes of solitude and mystery--elements of romanticism--abound on the album, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Bowie, as some romantics did--particularly Samuel T. Coleridge--created his own myth. In fact, he even believed he was Ziggy Stardust when he took center stage.

On a similar note, I am planning on doing a few poetry readings in the area...Lord Staniforth, "the lone genius." Ha! That has a ring to it. I have been referred to as the rock n' roll poet, and as the romantics of the 19th century, I look for the values in the songs of the day. My book will be released with a recording of my poetry, some of which is set to music.

Do you have your poems memorized? Can you recite them on the spur of the moment, at a chance encounter, to yourself even? I guess what I'm asking is do you relate to them as objects--words typed out on paper to be studied and fussed over--or songs--intangible fleeting things?

As a rock star, it is my duty to remember my words. More than anything, I wish to revive the voice of poetry. Without it, it is a script without a stage, dry and demeaning to the writer. When I went to University, I studied words. I dissected poems like a scientist dissects worms. Poetry is least of all a science. I never attended one poetry reading. It wasn't part of the curriculum. What an insult to those poets who slaved to be heard. We've lost the sound of poetry, the alliteration, assonance, meter...it's essential to the beauty. I can't wait to take the stage with a poem in one hand, and a pint in the other!

Do you expect to be well received? Have you been well received in print?

I would like to be well received, but that is not why I'm going to take the stage. It is a conviction. I am a man that is led by my conscience, not a desire to be popular for the sake of some dream. I can promise you, that I will not dance around issues such as child molestation and the injustice of the O.J. trial--as my poetry indicates--I intend to hit nails on the head. The romantics were never afraid to share their feelings, and neither am I.

As far as my writings are concerned, I have received mixed feelings. One man wrote a letter to a local newspaper which ended, "Staniforth, you are a punk!" Others have been stirred to affections they never knew they had.