Adaptation of Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" @laurencefuller www.laurencefuller.art
At one time I thought he was a God.
He did change, from what he once was,
The charmer who walked in from the fog.
That charm turned from light to dust,
I watched, him sway the whole court.
With laughter and universal thoughts,
Until the time he did transform.
But first let me show you what he once was;
A giant on the stage,
Who could bring the mightiest King to his knees.
With a song.
The rise of the great Balong,
Astounding audiences all along.
Until he was stripped of all the feathers that once brimmed his hat.
The rules he chose,
That made margins one by one,
Along a desk that rest his head,
And grey did fall from the clouds unto his bed,
To fill his head with all the things,
That could trip out of step,
Or all the laws that fall upon his head.
The parrot that was his friend,
Did wallow in the scraps of red.
And there I sought watch him strong,
To watch him build foundations of the future,
But as the treasures did role in,
His thoughts turned only then to management.
It’s a strange feeling,
It started with a rumor that he’d changed,
He was a different man that passed these days.
That passed the halls, And declaimed the ways,
Dictating his preferences and rules,
Which changed each day,
According to his plans, his knowledge,
His hands weighed down with documents,
Directions to which road was paved.
As wealth rolled in,
So did trinkets, trade,
A never-ending tide of gain ~
Until one morning,
He woke to find his hands withdrawn into themselves,
Fingers curled into brittle claws,
His spine arched into a husk,
His head folded into a helmet,
The colors that once swayed the crowd
Now dulled to grey, like distant rain.
The bold stories, declaimed aloud,
Had shriveled into memos ~
He once did set the world alight,
With a funny smile and endless fight,
Now it was only papers that he lifted to the heavens;
“Let me speak to the manager”
It’s not a good time,
We’d rather speak to people who had a human spine.
What are you doing up there?
I called his name all morning upon the stairs.
Lazy. Just ignore him.
Taking a step back.
We’re taking a step back.
Now’s not a good time.
Wait until you’re feeling better.
Because we don’t want people to say.
Because we want that we just don’t want to pay.
This is just a little bit of money in the…
Don’t have expectations.
Something better come through for you.
Something’s got to give.
Yes let’s just pray that something improves.
Let’s see what he does. Test him.
Make him feel… less than. He’s not doing enough.
He’s not doing what we asked.
Why don’t you talk to him?
We shouldn’t have to.
Maybe he’s just not good enough.
Tell him reasons. It doesn’t matter what he says.
Just fill his ears with excuse.
Is he dust yet? No he’s still breathing.
Why is he still breathing? You’re the expert.
Why aren’t you making any money! I don’t want to hear his opinions.
It’s twaddle. Worthless twaddle.
If he’s not going to work he won’t get any bread.
It’s predictable.
Does he think he’s better than his superiors.
How arrogant.
How stuffy.
Not the kind of person I want anything to do with.
Make him go homeless.
He doesn’t deserve a home.
Dismantle what he has failed.
What has he learned.
He used to be wonderful.
Don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.
You have failed your family.
End of discussion.
Cinematic poetry by Laurence Fuller
Adaptation of Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" @laurencefuller www.laurencefuller.art