a quick look at two poems by anselm hollo. you can find them in notes on the possibilities and attractions of existence.
t.v. (1)
“for he is ishi the last of his tribe”
“couldn’t help noticing your aftershave”
the brain which takes that in its stride
is yours & mine & it is late
t.v. (2)
fuzzy
nazis!
twenty-five years
pass.
then,
more fuzzy nazis!
in “t.v.(1)” anselm hollo quickly moves from the disappearance of a tribe to aftershave, suggesting the quickness of attention that we all are used to from t.v. and the way we just take it in stride (this reminds me of neil postman's "now . . . this" conjunction"). then hollo throws in “it is late,” which suggest the lateness of the hour of watching t.v. with its feeling of fatigue (we might be forgiven since we are tired!) or perhaps the “it is late” plays on the notion that “it is late” to notice that our brains do not notice the quick change. he moves into “t.v.(2)” in which he discusses the reoccurrence of the nazis in a difference form. they are “fuzzy” nazis, but then again, are not nazis always fuzzy? and the they repeat. if we did notice the disconnect, perhaps we would be better at noticing the the “fuzzy” nazis in any form they come in, perhaps we could see the meaning behind the content.
“for he is ishi the last of his tribe”
“couldn’t help noticing your aftershave”
the brain which takes that in its stride
is yours & mine & it is late
t.v. (2)
fuzzy
nazis!
twenty-five years
pass.
then,
more fuzzy nazis!
in “t.v.(1)” anselm hollo quickly moves from the disappearance of a tribe to aftershave, suggesting the quickness of attention that we all are used to from t.v. and the way we just take it in stride (this reminds me of neil postman's "now . . . this" conjunction"). then hollo throws in “it is late,” which suggest the lateness of the hour of watching t.v. with its feeling of fatigue (we might be forgiven since we are tired!) or perhaps the “it is late” plays on the notion that “it is late” to notice that our brains do not notice the quick change. he moves into “t.v.(2)” in which he discusses the reoccurrence of the nazis in a difference form. they are “fuzzy” nazis, but then again, are not nazis always fuzzy? and the they repeat. if we did notice the disconnect, perhaps we would be better at noticing the the “fuzzy” nazis in any form they come in, perhaps we could see the meaning behind the content.
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