An exercise in amusement

Cartoon Physics, part 1

Nick Flynn

Children under, say, ten, shouldn't know
that the universe is ever-expanding,
inexorably pushing into the vacuum, galaxies

swallowed by galaxies, whole

solar systems collapsing, all of it
acted out in silence. At ten we are still learning

the rules of cartoon animation,

that if a man draws a door on a rock
only he can pass through it.
Anyone else who tries

will crash into the rock. Ten-year-olds
should stick with burning houses, car wrecks,
ships going down -- earthbound, tangible

disasters, arenas

where they can be heroes. You can run
back into a burning house, sinking ships

have lifeboats, the trucks will come
with their ladders, if you jump

you will be saved. A child

places her hand on the roof of a schoolbus,
& drives across a city of sand. She knows

the exact spot it will skid, at which point
the bridge will give, who will swim to safety
& who will be pulled under by sharks. She will learn

that if a man runs off the edge of a cliff
he will not fall

until he notices his mistake.

...I find that my favorite poems have enjoy a certain
bittersweet quality--a pull-tug between something
amusing, and something reflective, or even dour.
There's nothing dour about this poem--the poem has as
much fun as its subject, but still ends on a
contemplative note, bringing to mind the ways in which
children are often introduced to the subjects of
death, dying or accidents--that they are something
easily bounced back from, or something mysterious,
colorful or funny. I actually find a slightly macabre
undercurrent here, but that might have more to do with
the subject matter than the tone or intent of the
poem.

Your assignment: Write about something we see everyday
that, upon reflection, is highly amusing and surreal.
This can work for just about anything--how people wait
patiently for a crosswalk sign when there is no
traffic for miles, or how no one will look at each
other in an elevator, or how accustomed we are to TV
laugh tracks--whatever.

There are lots of everyday moments that are actually
pretty ridiculous if a poet shines a light on them.
So, shine your light, dear poet--find juxtaposed
images and unusual series of events that the reader
can do nothing but chortle at (and in the process,
chortle at themselves.) There is way too much
depressing poetry, and not nearly enough lighthearted
verse--so, get crackin'!