Almanac Poetry: The Artist Formerly Known
The Artist Formerly Known
Popstar Anthony Bonicello,
at the start, was matchstick-thin
and known as Elastic Anthony
because of his supple gymnastic act.
He had a number one hit
with the novelty song ‘Bend Me Baby’.
Making use of parallel bars, vaulting horse
and Roman rings, he’d sing
Bend me baby, I’m your plasticine …
But his follow-up single, ‘Pliable Me’,
sunk like a bathysphere.
What to do next, after Teen Angel records
shanghaied him into the street?
He slicked down his hair,
grew a pornstar moustache,
crooning bad cabaret
in front of an ensemble
of overweight, alcoholic,
paid-by-the-hour musicians.
That didn’t last long. Poor Anthony
ended up weighing three hundred pounds,
dying, arteries hard as cement,
in the arms of a male whore.
Not that there’s anything wrong about that:
they were in love.
But it was sad.
(Acknowledgement: previously published in my second poetry book, Lionheart Summer, Picaro Press, 2011; reprinted by Ginninderra Press, 2018.)
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
You capture his sad descent. But at least he went out with a bang & in the arms of a lover. Probably not a bad way to go, when you think about it.
Many thanks for the comments, DB.
And yes, expressions such as, er, ‘with a bang’ and ‘on the job’ spring to mind!