Take Two: Cross / J. Edgar Hoover & Clyde Tolson
it's 1975 pacing up and down the River Styx
again he Man checks his watch he had expected
St. Peter clouds of glory he hadn't believed
he'd be sent here in his pockets coins
yet he doesn't want the Underworld
(swish pan) who will select his double-breasted
suits will buff his calluses and paint his toenails
who else to share FBI Fizzes to sit near the riverside
tieless talking legacy Dillinger the subversives
to chuckle at hints of Negro blood (rushes) of gay-ity
three years is a long time but the Man crosses
commandeers a deck chair waits
for his alter ego bosom buddy Tolson will
bring cash and a valise to J. Edna (pace)
Hoover's a mess his Garfinkel suit and Eleanor blue tie
though he brushes them daily are threadbare
his underwear too he needs
(shock cut) new thongs a black spandex girdle
Note: Clyde Tolson was the protegé & alleged lover of J. Edgar Hoover
Take Two: Kill Off / Auguste Rodin & Camille Claudel
always the other other
(ambient light) her mentors lovers sculpted
beauty in a bonnet the famous
molded her (climax/anticlimax) lyrical talent
world in clay lost wax and bronze hands
hers on him him in hers not chaste
but chased erotic studio chaos bronze waltz
slicked with fresh clay in her kiln
still always that other woman the wilted rose
he won't drop Camille rages melts his waxes
(kill off) hammers his clay spills slurry baby
no baby from her he stole unhinged she set
studios on fire (new storyboard) enter her brother
straightjacket barred cell never Debussy
no calm sea traitors no key for Rodin
(framing) Kiss Burghers of Calais
his old Rose for Mad'moiselle Claudel 30 years
locked in (deep focus) communal grave
This poem is part of a book called Take Two: Film Studies. The two characters here are two sculptors—one famous, one not—Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin. This book is due to be published by Omnidawn in 2017.
Susan Terris’ most recent book is Ghost Of Yesterday: New & Selected Poems (Marsh Hawk Press). She is the author of 6 books of poetry, 16 chapbooks, 3 artist's books, and one play. Journal publications include The Southern Review, Denver Quarterly, and Ploughshares. Online publications include Blackbird, The Drunken Boat, and Diode. A poem of hers from Field appeared in Pushcart Prize XXXI. She's editor of Spillway Magazine. Her chapbook Memos was published by Omnidawn in 2015. A poem from this book, first published in the Denver Quarterly, was selected for Best American Poetry 2015. Omnidawn will publish her book Take Two: Film Studies in 2017. www.susanterris.com