Bankruptcy At The Time Of Her Death
A Legal Poem Of Futility
by
Jon Presco
Copyright 2016
Since the death of my once famous sister, THE DECEDENT, in 1994, I have read a lot of legal jargon, and tried to imitate it in my letters to lawyers and judges. Who is this stuff written for? Allegedly The People., but, a lone Judge was the recipient of this futile masterpiece. This haunting piece of paper was filed in the Superior Court of Monterey. Her name is not given. She is addressed as ‘The Decendant’ . We are reminded she is dead a dozen times or more. It doesn’t matter that she was once a world famous woman artist. She gets what everyone gets in a court of law – that has nothing to do with Justice! One is brought low, humbled, most of the time. There are winners and losers on a level few can grasp. This is why we have to pay good money to those who can.
This is why the gods on high fashioned a very intricate labyrinth in order to keep lawyers and poets, apart! When perchance they meet, their muses really go at it. No prisoners are taken. This, separation is the Yin and Yang of, the driving engine of, all civilizations. Heere, alas, the secret is out! Lawyers hate poetry, and vise versa! I alone dare mix their visions and vexations!
This numbered piece of paper, is so grim, I decided to turn it into a poem that will render Christine Rosamond a Poor Bohemian Artist. Her commercial success – was overnight! She dealt in big checks for twenty-two years. She was loved by all. All the players mentioned, continued to try and make money out of the darkness. To this end, Rosamond put pinholes in her walls – just before she drowned. She was financially over her head.
I dedicate this poem to struggling artists everywhere. Especially my dear friend, Amy Oles. The 120th. anniversary of Puccini’s opera, La Boeme, was just celebrated. Here is the first installment of my grim poetic pickens, in time for Halloween.
PART ONE
AN ARTIST’S HAUNTED HOUSE
At the time of her death
her finances were in great disarray
disarray
disarray
Upon investigating
descendants finances,
Respondent learned
he learned
he learned
that she had been living off
of loans
off of
off of loans
from friends
and business acquaintances
for years
For years her life
was in disarray
Tell us of her home
her home
what about her home?
The descendants home
was in foreclosure
and
the total amount of
the liens against the property
exceeded its value
unnamed valued friends
and business acquaitneces
just couldn’t bring themselves
to walk away.
Further
the descendants home
was used as a studio
a studio
off of loans
from her family
and friends
The floors and walls
were in terrible condition
and
it appeared the descendant
the dead artist
had used the walls – the walls
as painting surfaces
she did – she did
painted on her walls
pinholes and paint splotches
were everywhere
I mean everywhere
the home was in foreclosure
in distress.
Her acquaintances can attest
this artist was under duress
duress
duress
duress.
Pinholes – everywhere
and paint splotches
were everywhere
painting surfaces
pinholes
splotches of paint.
For a time
it appears
the ARTIST had a ball
