Q & A – I Thought that this was interesting. I think you will too!

So. One of my loyal readers asked me a question the other day about a recurring theme in the titles of my two latest collections, “Revenge of the Pink Pony” and “White Horse”. I knew what the answer was, but I’d never really thought about it as much as I did at the time I answered his question.

When I was done, I was amazed at how much I had typed. There is more… But I didn’t want to go too deep into it at the time. Anyway, I was intrigued at my response. I thought that maybe you would, too.

In addition to sharing this e-mail with you, I would also like to present you with a challenge: Take some time to sit down, breathe, and think about exactly WHY you do some of the things you do in life. Think about why you are the way you are. I mean – REALLY think about it. And if there are some things you don’t like; if your reasons for doing those things don’t quite make any sense to you anymore, then try to arrive at a suitable and healthy plan for change – and follow through with it. And remember – it doesn’t matter that other people don’t agree with your reasons. The only thing that matters is what you really feel on the inside. But you will never really know how you feel about anything until you ask yourself.

I believe that often times, we can become so comfortably trapped in our religion (not our spiritual preference, but our routine in general) that we forget why or how we allowed ourselves to fall into that religion in the first place. It can be dangerous when you’re doing something on a daily basis – especially when that something consumes a large portion of your time and energy – and you don’t know why you are doing it. There’s nothing wrong with a little self-evaluation every now and then.

And now, my response to my reader’s question. Happy reading!

Q:

“…what’s with the equine references for the titles of your books?”

A:

You know, I really don’t know what sparked the equine influence. When I was brainstorming for a name for what is now “Revenge”, it wasn’t my first thought to theme the collection after a horse fighting to regain control of it’s life. I mean, that  is, in essence, what Revenge of the Pink Pony really is!

Around the time I was creating for that collection, a good friend of mine had introduced me to a famous German-American poet – Charles Bukowski. I suggest you look him up if you’re not familiar with him. I began to read his poems online, and then before I could blink again I was the proud owner of two Bukowski biographies, a couple novels and a good number of his poetry books. I was entrigued by the man and his story. I was fully in tune with his poetry. I had fallen in love with with his freedom of style and expression – and I still am. He said whatever he wanted to say, any way he wanted to say it. He wasn’t bound by the confines of traditional poetry.  What I liked most about his style was that he talked to the reader. It was like he was in the room speaking to you. His language wasn’t over the reader’s head. As much as he boasted about how great of poet he was (he was a leo – so am I), he never forgot that he was on the same level as everyone else. He was no god – not even a god of poetry. He was both ugly and beautiful; both hard and soft. Not everyone agreed with his words and actions. He was hated by some, actually – and for good reason. But, oh, his poetry would turn you inside out to expose your bleeding self, because he wasn’t afraid to show anybody what bleeding looks and feels like.

He and I are two different people; however; our personality similarities are almost frightening. We were both born  around the same time. We both share similar interests.

Bukowski was a huge fan of the horse races. He placed bets at the track almost every day of his old age. I think that’s where my horse theme came from. ‘Til this day I feel that I was so in tune with Bukowski that everything I created at the time was infused with his spirit in some way. Even the original drawing for the cover design was modeled after Bukowski. It’s a pink pony with a long, wavy mane. It’s smoking a cigarette and has a pot belly. It’s wearing a cheap diamond ring and displaying its chest and pubic hairs proudly. It’s a pink pony – but it’s been through some things; it’s had a hard life. It may look innocent, but it will kick anybody’s ass at any given time for any given reason.

And that’s how I feel we should all live our lives. We control our situations and circumstances. It shouldn’t be the other way around. We can’t allow life to bully us any longer! We’ve got to get our revenge. And that will mean different things for different peope.  But regardless of what that means for individuals specfically, it’s got to be done. If we don’t learn to fight back against adversity and negativity of all kinds, then true happiness may forever be out of reach. And if we aren’t living to be happy, then what are we living for?

 - Cambridge Jenkins IV