Ariadne’s notes: In the first of a series presenting World Poetry Café Radio Show co-hosts on Tuesday, August 4, 9:00 PM on CFRO, 100 FM, hosts Ariadne Sawyer and Anita Aguirre Nieveras welcomed Victor Schwartzman to the show. To hear his column and mention of Donald Trump, CLICK HERE!
Victor Schwartzman has written a weekly column on disability issues for over two years, and is very disappointed that nothing has improved. The column is on the AODA Alliance website and Accessibility News. He is also polishing a satiric novel, King of the Planet, about a dimension ruled by people who believe in Fox News. He helps out occasionally with World Poetry Café. He will be seventy on August 19, and expects you to send him presents. He is also the World Poetry Peace and Human Rights film Festival Director, a radio show operator in training and host.
Here’s a funny story about Godzilla
Godzilla, that cheesy monster movie
was Americanized from Gojira.
The original’s director, Ishiro Honda
traveled through Hiroshima
as a Japanese soldier
saw the devastation of nuclear war
and decided to make a film
about the horror of atomic bombing.
The A-Bomb’s fire storm
became Godzilla’s fiery radioactive breath
the look of Tokyo after Godzilla stomped it
was based on Hiroshima after the bomb
the first boat Godzilla destroys
was based on the Lucky Seven
tuna boat too close to the first H Bomb test
(Americans in the area were warned
but Japanese were not so…lucky)
The boat’s radio operator got sick
Americans denied treatment information
his agonizing death took a year
he was the first victim of the H Bomb
Japanese audiences watching Gojira
saw a nuclear allegory about America
Americans watching Godzilla
were entertained by Japs killed by a monster
isn’t that funny
well, the Americans are laughing
Victor Schwartzman (C)
This poem was published about two years ago, in the St. Vitus Prose and Poetry Review:
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What a talented writer! Yes, the poem should be single spaced but Godzilla was a big fella and takes up a lotta space. Thanks for the invite to appear again on World Poetry Café!
Sure having trouble putting features in. You are most welcome.