Marc Janssen

Cantateur

–after Tympan by Jacques Derrida

A note held softly on air
A notion married to a pitch
And the pitch joins the enigma
As if something were said.

The title of the paper, “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the Roots of the Five Note Motif
in Modern Existentialism.” Then later unhinging both Dark Side of the Moon and the
Wizard of Oz at the same time a strange unnatural synergy is created, where mentally
disturbed Englishmen suddenly try to depress the munchkins. Obviously there is a
connection that must be studied further.

Lift from the shoulders of dry paper,
Let fly your tones
Rattling dry bones tweezering into the air
Made hot and moist with breath.

I called the UPS man and he sang his excuse to me. A show tune entitled “Bad
Weather in Tennessee.” Rotten news. But cheerfully received.

When Tom was born. He was silent. Reserved, wrapped tightly like a pale eggplant in
a towel. And looked with incredulous eyes. And quietly squawked, with the voice of a
cantateur. Something deep inside me gladly shattered.

What is there left to say about Marc Janssen, other than he should eat more vegetables? Maybe his verse can be found scattered around the world in places like Pinyon, Orbis, Pure Slush, Cirque Journal, Two Thirds North, Poetry Salzburg and also in his book November Reconsidered. Janssen coordinates the Salem Poetry Project, a weekly reading, the occasionally occurring Salem Poetry Festival. And he keeps getting nominated for Oregon Poet Laurate. For more information visit, marcjanssenpoet.com.