Text of the Artwork
The Goat and The Crab
It’s not a hurdle, it’s a chasm!
One Capricorn tries to keep their voice in control –
As a thesis statement on maturity.
If one can spear the problem’s core and take responsibility,
That can tell a story that butted feelings cannot.
But Cancer only sees feelings –
Her sister sign
The opposite side of the same coin.
And one breakup threatens to be the age old cat fight
Between the moon and her shadow.
Relationships take work, and I was in a depressive episode
Says Cancer, you’re really going to quit now?
And it strikes a fucking nerve,
And all that invisible strings tugged by sweet little crab
Are seen clearly.
Isn’t it a reasonable reason, they goad,
To throw a pity party over your boundary?
Who are you to tell this goat about work?
Language is useless here
Because if you were to wipe off the board
Left with sooty streaks
You’d still see the writing on the wall
You’d still have a distracted pupil
In the class of loving you –
Undedicated.
And how can you leave your heart in such hands
Your solid earth cracking open?
And so.
No more wasted work gets thrown into the ocean
Or stuffed in the shell.
Back to climbing for your many reasons.
About the Artist
Pilar Duralde is an Atlanta-born poet and screenwriter living in Los Angeles. With interests ranging from romantic comedies to cults, Pilar’s writing explores the humor and pain of longing, love, faith, and obsession.
@pillarpilar
Curator’s Note
This poem was originally performed live for Praxinoscope: Signs of the Zodiac at 1642 Bar, Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles California on June 12, 2022.
PeformX Documents No. 2 containing printed documentation of texts drawn from this performance will be available for purchase September 2022.
Note: PerformX Documents are Free for Subscribers!
Production Notes
This podcast and performance series is hosted by Derek Denckla.
Sound was produced by John Dawson, Magnetic South Studios, ind him @magneticsouthrecordings and listen to his other projects at magneticsouth.bandcamp.com.
Our theme music “Alien Desert” was composed by Cato Gilmour @cato_gilmour.
Still images are the work of Derek Denckla, except where otherwise noted.
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