Poems
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Chocolate grinder (no 1)
By Alex GallagherBittersweet spiral with machine-made lungs
the whirring hum of a nascent grind
swivel of drums oscillating in time
like the saccharine pirouette -
Marcel Duchamp at the age of 85
By David AstleMD at LXXXV:
shadow-cratered, and crated:
the grand MOMA moon,
who created, and catered, -
Portrait of Dr. Dumouchel
By Alex GallagherLuminous skeletal
transfer your transparence
Won’t you rip open that ribcage and show -
SixteenMilesofString
By David Stavangerbillyidol--catcradle--riflecartridge--composite--taut--evensquare
ficelle--learnerpermit--johnhughes--buddy--thepoweroftwo--onemile
ageofconsent--igaveitaway--prickafinger--caughtfire--donatebloods
chesspawns--wholeballroom--myersbriggs--wakinghours--thetowercard -
This is a Real Poem
By David StavangerWhat’s the difference between a chocolate grinder and a poem?
The title of the poem cannot compete with cocoa.
Nor the mundane truth of the grinder. White chocolate
is the worst case of plagiarism in the last 100 years. -
‘Untitled (Left Arm)’, 1959
By Brian Fuata
In response to Marcel Duchamp's ‘Untitled (Left Arm)’ 1959.
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Marcel Duchamp with Pocket Chess Set
By Evelyn AraluenI’ll play the light
and pocket each memory in mourning black
There’s something to be won from a rightful step:
a consent to match -
Please touch (what do you suggest?) or Woman's work is never
By Pascalle Burton
In response to Man Ray's ‘Duchamp as Rrose Selavy’ 1921–26.
See the artwork that inspired this poem in the flesh, along with more than 100 of Marcel Duchamp’s world-renowned pieces, in ‘The Essential Duchamp’ exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 April – 11 August 2019.
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Stair/Case
By David StavangerTo cast myself on a wall
I literally had to stop time
let the staircase ascend my body
like a dream I had where I forgot -
Marcel Duchamp as Rrose Sélavy
By Alex GallagherEros by any other name arrested
distill those androgyne words of love
to spill like ink and ignite and expire
without language to (s)peak of — -
L’Opposition et les Cases Conjugées sont Réconciliées
By Evelyn AraluenI say I won’t go
and you say you won’t choose
We make games of blocking and correspondence
but cannot sustain the play -
Marcel Duchamp, in surreal bliss: Spokesperson For Taking The Piss.
By David AstleMarcel Duchamp, in surreal bliss:
Spokesperson For Taking The Piss.
In response to Marvin Lazarus' portrait of 'Duchamp at the Museum of Modern Art's "Art of assemblage" exhibition (standing next to 'Fountain' and behind 'Bicycle wheel')' 1961 -
DaDa Reload
By David StavangerI would rather [be shot]
I would rather [be shot than kill]
I would rather [kill than be somebody]
I would rather [paint myself than kill again] -
The Bush
By Evelyn AraluenSoft other abreast gaiac omphalos
From and to which to wish the swell
Eternal recurval return
Beloved be love ed -
whispers & kicks
By David StavangerThere's nothing quite like that fresh, clean feeling
right after a shave. But all can be ruined once you notice
clumps of sink left in dark hair. I trained as a librarian.
This is a clear transgression of boundaries. Now I’m in -
‘Ciné-Sketch: Adam and Eve (Marcel Duchamp and Bronia Perlmutter), 1924
By Brian Fuata
In response to Man Ray's ‘Ciné-Sketch: Adam and Eve (Marcel Duchamp and Bronia Perlmutter)’ portrait of Marcel Duchamp, 1924.
See the artwork that inspired this poem in the flesh, along with more than 100 of Marcel Duchamp’s world-renowned pieces, in ‘The Essential Duchamp’ exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 April – 11 Augu… -
Portrait (Dulcinea)
By David StavangerPicasso never mentally dressed a woman on the street.
He could bear the thought of less and less clothes.
Picasso approached a subject with an eye detached.
Give me a woman’s hat and I’ll fill it -
Dart-Object
By Evelyn AraluenIf you’d known what and where I was leaving
from the pieces fallen slack by the mould
Desire might invite key or lock
or tempt you to hold objects in the dark -
‘going against’ is pleasurable as pleasure
By Pascalle Burton
In response to Marcel Duchamp's 'Female fig leaf ' 1961 (cast of 1950).
See the artwork that inspired this poem in the flesh, along with more than 100 of Marcel Duchamp’s world-renowned pieces, in ‘The Essential Duchamp’ exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 April – 11 August 2019.
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'Bicycle wheel' (replica of 1913 original), 1964
By Brian Fuata
In response to Marcel Duchamp's 'Bicycle wheel' 1964 (replica of 1913 original)
See the artwork that inspired this poem in the flesh, along with more than 100 of Marcel Duchamp’s world-renowned pieces in ‘The Essential Duchamp’ exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 27 April – 11 August 2019.
