Kai Michael Neumann Poet Persona

the prismatic Self

gauntlet of mirrors transparency personified
transparency personified when the curtain falls
in an arena of quick sand and impromptu judgement

the stage was well set though actually
it presented itself as rather empty
epic theatre art form at its vacant best

I placed himself at the very manifest epicentre
of concealed and subconscious intentions
would I shed the gauntlet despite sharp sordid shards

sharing poetry soul-stripping and nakedly honest
Freud would think of an electrifying Egopuss complex
Jung’s shadow play might reveal phallic saints on display

until of course Nietzsche found God in Mary Magdalene
a marriage apocalyptically consummated in Dante’s inferno
with four horsemen in G-strings frottageing lust and desire

no contest is real unless the audience may be allowed
to pervert justice or shed more than hypocritical applause
constructive critique does not forbid foul language nor rage

at times I felt deprived when my poetry in the soup’s cauldron
merely attracted kind comments or however heartfelt approval
when I put myself into the lioness’ den I expect to be ravaged

ravaged displaced exposed devoured and put to the stake
a wizard needs fire because talent and flair have to be moulded
publishing poetry is an interaction between consenting partners

otherwise it risks to become pantomime or unilateral megalomania
mirror mirror on the wall am I not the best screwball of them all
where is the podium what is my prize accolade and quilled line squall

a masked persona falls short of the truth and I am the court jester
expect my bells and whistles to jingle as tools for the eloquent fool
tomtoolery when Machiavelli meets de Beauvoir in the boudoir

oh crystal ball kaleidoscope gemstone alchemy of soul and mind
nights in white satin and shining armour pain pleasure and words
words that cannot express my conflict when the prism is smudged


footnotes:

Egopuss complex refers to Oedipus’ gender neutrality, although it could be 
viewed as a misspelling for the purulent excretions of Self on autopilot

tomtoolery are male tools of trade and craft, but could I not be the feminine 
version

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Susan Ashley June 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM Dear Kai, congratulations for your success in Daniel’s contest with your prismatic poem. Your potent eloquence is deep and engaging. I enjoyed the grand poetic theatre of this amazing piece. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan

Lin Lane June 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM Kai, as one of Daniel's co-judges... congratulations on having your entry chosen for the Honorable Mention list. It was quite a challenge.

Daniel Henry Rodgers June 9, 2025 at 1:06 PM Hello Kai, What a tripwire of truth your poem is. Congratulations on receiving Honorable Mention. But honestly, how does one rank a controlled literary detonation? Your piece is a raw blitz of wit, intellect, and fearless theatricality, a manifesto delivered from a trapdoor, mid-soliloquy, while the theater burns and the jester smiles. You didn’t walk into that gauntlet of mirrors but you cartwheeled in, painted your face, and dared everyone to flinch. This is not performance poetry but it’s performative exorcism. Congrats Again, Spring Blessings, My Friend, Daniel