Die Mysterien der deutschen Sprache I

Neulich sprang mich beim Einkaufen in Stuttgarts Innenstadt das Verb “unterkeilen” an. Und gleich noch in Verbindung mit einem Verbot! Genial einfach, einfach genial.

Am I Beautiful, O Nausea?

For S.

Suis-je belle, ô nausée?
– Frank O’Hara

Now Nausicaa, she was something
to behold. And she’s been beheld
by the finest, including Odysseus.

Some people get started with white
sausage, pretzel and beer on Sunday.
That would be in Munich, most likely.

Modest I skips everything but
the pretzel. Could never do without.
But that Nausicaa I’ll have to follow

… if only to avoid the famous
Sunday nausea Kris Kristofferson
is on about on a different continent.

“I love the way you travel,” said
the one next to me, “I’ll never
be able to guess where fancy

takes you.” Let if be Fancy,
let it be Nausicaa, let it be
my urge to displace Nausea.

I’m sure the three have never
before met on Sunday morning,
let alone in a little poem of

uncertain roots kicked in gear
by that museal New Yorkean
dancer of things in space and time.

– Johannes Beilharz (© 2012)

Miss Otis Regrets

Miss Otis Regrets
Acrylic on paper, 2012 (section)

She’s unable to love today

Her purse with the pink dots was stolen yesterday
Or so she thinks

Tiger the bulldog misbehaved, bit into and ruined a shoe

And anyway it’s one of those cloudy days over Paris
à la couleur toute grise

Miss Otis regrets,
she’s unable to love today

– Johannes Beilharz (© 2012)

Written and painted as a result of listening to the old jazz standard Miss Otis Regrets (sung by Maxine Sullivan, 1911-1987) today.

Archipelago III

Painting after some more computer editing.
Dasselbe Bild nach weiterer Bearbeitung auf dem Computer.

Archipelago II

Same painting, subjected to some computer editing.
Dasselbe Bild nach Bearbeitung auf dem Computer.

Archipelago I

Archipelago (section) / Archipel (Ausschnitt)
2011
Arylic and pen on paper / Acryl und Farbstift auf Papier

An ancient map of the world

What looks like an ancient map of part of the world is actually a close-up of paint flaking off the top of a balustrade in the neighborhood.