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Thoughts On A Statue Of Glenn Gould

from New Home​/​All Home by Paulie Lipman

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This is an ekphrastic poem, inspired by the statue pictured here.

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THOUGHTS ON A STATUE OF GLENN GOULD

The most glaring omission
is the fingers
The sculptor has painted them
a lumpen whole, none
of the individual, the tap
tapping articulates that dissected Bach
put his innards back together, smirking
at the sound of the master's coffin
tumbling

Even in this
an idealized, forever bust
he still doesn't look comfortable
Not even a torch
could carve him at home
in himself

We are not drawn
to the eyes
Nor the telling wrinkles of
life lived fantastically devoted
to the sound slippery divine
Instead the cap
the scarf and gloves
a neurotic uniform hiding pockets
filled brim with prescriptions, a mouth
unaccustomed to marriage proposals

Lucky for us
this shrine lives nestled
in downtown's bustle
on the edge of the bench, his
image and idea bearing the brunt
of our prayers and pictures, leaving
his mind and marrow to wander a
Salvation Army estate, left alone
to conduct the moon rising

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from New Home​/​All Home, released December 26, 2011
Words by Paulie Lipman

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Paulie Lipman Denver, Colorado

Paulie Lipman has been a part of 8 Denver National Slam Teams(including '04's second place and '06's national champions). His work has appeared in The Legendary, Borderline, and the Write Bloody anthology: The Good Things About America.

In addition to Spoken Word, Pauile is also a musician/composer and is available for hire for commercial/video game/soundtrack work.
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