Matt Cook was Milwaukee’s Poet Laureate in 2015 and 2016. Matt makes me laugh more than any other poet. His delivery is unique, and the words he chooses to give emphasis to just add to the humor.
I think he could have been successful at stand-up comedy, as well as poetry. Here’s an example from his book, “Proving Nothing to Anyone”.
The non-sequiturs that are a hallmark of his poetry are quite evident in this poem. But they work for me. I love the line, ‘a submarine crew of poets would be a mistake’. No kidding.
If you ever get a chance to hear Matt read his poetry aloud, don’t miss it.
Until next time.
Ed
An Impossible Question
Every time the gas company sends a worker to my house,
the guy gets here and all he wants to talk about is gas.
Why can't the gas company send someone well rounded to my house?
An impossible question is a nice thing to have around sometimes.
You tell me you pisshead – Is this pencil sharpener ordinary or extraordinary?
Every thirty-six months I have a nervous breakdown,
And then I forget who I am, and then some time passes,
And then I remember who I am, and it keeps me young.
A submarine crew of poets would be a mistake.
The fish in the ocean have no fresh water to drink.
Has anybody ever thought of that before?
From “Proving Nothing to Anyone” (2013, Publishing Genius Press)