Questions Of Art

With this small pistol
I invite you to shoot me.
You are safe from repercussions.
I will press no charges.

Shoot me in the shoulder!

Is this art?

Some ask that art be gunless,
unarmed.  Well, I am asking you
to take an arm from me
and use it to take an arm from me,
so if this is your perspective
you can console yourself
by knowing that together,
we will be making art.

This is disturbing to you?
You don’t wish to help?

Or, it does not disturb you at all
because I sound like an artist talking,
speaking figuratively?

I assure you that I’m an artist
but I will not say if I am speaking figuratively,
or rather, I leave that up to you
and your decision as to what to do
with the pistol.

I could shoot myself on stage
but then, you’d bear no part
of the performance. Or a small part only
if you felt pain or fear for me,
or for yourself as I fired.

When is pain performance?
At what point does a grimace demand applause?
These are the questions of art we face tonight.

Here is the small pistol I promised.
Perhaps you have your own to use?
Please, take mine; it’s not traceable.
I built it myself.  Learned gunsmithing
just for tonight’s show.

At what point does this become insanity,
or some form of illness? I assure you
I was sane enough to learn the new craft
with great care.  The gun will not go off
in your hand by error.  It will require
your attention to go off at all.
It is not the finished product of an insane man;
my thinking is quite well-ordered.

“Shoot me” is also not my crazy thought
but a calm invitation, a willingness to take pain
for your educational and entertainment needs.
This is compassion and sacrifice.
How am I insane?

You may stand very close, if you wish,
if it will salve your fear that you may miss
and make a lethal error.  Press the barrel
against the meat…If you like,
we can clear the room so it’s just the two of us
here, intimates in shared creation.

At what point will my pain,
vicariously thrilling at one remove,
become worthy enough of your attention
that you will assist me?

No blame will attach to your choice
no matter what you choose to do.
But I have come this far for you;
how far will you come for me?

Tags: poems, poetry, meditations