Written by Adam Iddings Since the 20th anniversary of Liquid Swords, this writer has been writing poetry inspired by the music of GZA and Wu Tang Clan. Below are twenty-three haiku based on their music. Basho says, “Composition must occur in an instant, like a woodcutter felling a huge tree, or a swordsman leaping at his enemy. It is also like cutting a ripe watermelon with a sharp knife or like taking a large bite at a pear.” The GZA says, “Liquid Swords is a concept of being lyrically sharp, flowing like liquid metal – mercury, y'know? It comes from this flick, Legend of the Liquid Sword, where people would get their head cut off but it would still be on their shoulders. No one else would notice, because the sword was so sharp. Wu-Tang is a sword style, and this here is the sharpest.” Here below are 23 Wu-Tang-inspired haiku. “Gold” Parked by the roiling drain, A maserati shelter For the cold wet rat. “4th Chamber” The muddy murk The hooded burglar slips in Running from his robbing the bank. “Nutmeg” From hiz zenith, A city hawk drops On your Bush-Nunn. “Killa Hills 10304” Coming ashore, A smuggler’s boat greets The growling hound dog. “Living in the World Today” A haggard ghost Playing an organ In the barroom. “Swordsman” A tunic-wearer Levitating in the monastery of the MS-DOS. “I Gotcha Back” Under the Wu house, A buried clay tablet That asks: “What is the meaning of crime? Is it criminals robbing innocent motherfuckers Every time?” “Labels” The throw of the bills On the craps table Settles the applause. “Investigative Reports” Bound, gagged, and shot Eating spring lemons: Come on down, you’re the next contestant “Tical” There’s no harm in going slow: Cherry blossoms in a deep fjord, A Cheetos bag swirling on the sidewalk. “Knuckleheadz” The gunsmoke carnival: On a high-wire a clown juggles RZA’s ABC blocks. “Heaven & Hell” Ostrich plume leis & Iced coladas in low-ball glasses: Floating on a lava flow. “Tai Chi” On the steps of a church, Two moon-flooded bums Playing dice for filas. “B.I.B.L.E.” A young Mayan runner Cupping his hands To drink the well water. “Bring the Pain” Is it really real? An island airport runway rained on With crystal droplets. “All I Need” A samurai motorcycle Speeding through the Holland Tunnel Like an eraser streak. “Criminology” Winter-damp-crack concrete: The scruffled tramp Hocking wares outside a shoe store. “Assassination Day” A white glow inside From Mortal Kombat-playing Lights the jungle cave. “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’” At the training ground, A toxic dust hanging In the projector beam. “C.R.E.A.M.” Under the swampy stairs, Down the riverbank Styx, A Scott Joplin piano. “Ice Cream” The last “Your guts,” Sweet as an ice cream truck-- Whose yell is that line? “Brooklyn Zoo” Daisy sour cream Left molding on the fire escape: A poor seer snacks. “Tragedy” Falling through a sandpit into a galaxy awkwardly.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
PLEASE NOTE: For the first two weeks of May, we will be revamping our blog sections and moving posts so that the site will be easier to navigate. Please pardon our (virtual) dust as we shift things around. Thank you!
Hip Hop Archives
November 2017
|