"the frightening adventure" by frankie death
(a collection of poems by frankie death, 1988-2000)
This collection of poetry is a documentary of 'frankie death's' conversations with the dark places of his soul, and like those places the words can jar, sometimes flowing uneasily, but in their resolution, are always beautiful and profound.
frankie death is an artist, musician and writer exploring his own uniqueness. Uniqueness is tied to the search for originality; looking for ways to translate the personal experience of the universal in new or forgotten ways. In order to express originality, one must learn to seize inspiration, to concentrate on the now.
Poetry is an art formthat has had it's time of novel expression and has now been consumed by more modern, yet less rarefied mediums, such as pop music and advertising. However the power of crafted or inspired language still has its impact, perhaps, paradoxically, even more so in an age which sees poetry as passe.
These poems are inspirational, in the sense that they are inspired by emotion, often fuelled by intoxication, or the fallout from emotional upheaval: they are expressions of a personal experience in a particular time and space. What makes them relevant to the reader is that they also seek to express resolutions to these emotions...they do not merely describe, they also proscribe- a remedy, a way out of unhealthy possession by overbearing feelings; light is acknowledged in naming the darkness.
Western culture, presently is in an accelerated time of change. Obsessed with processes, but no solid visions or goals other than abstract and manipulatable concepts such as "freedom," we are living in a time where we are forced to look within ourselves for answers. In order to do this we must first confront our own darkness and learn to accept and relate to it before we can gain any sense of of inner cohesion.
What you will find in this collection is not always pretty; but it is honest, often profound. Observations of a soul that is not afraid to ask why there is pain in its existence, but even more rare, has the courage to stay and listen and accept the answers it recieves and learn that the true reason for the experience of personal tragedy is to accept, grow and transcend our present limitations.
Thomas K Bollinger
Thomas K Bollinger is better known as the founder of the cutting edge info-zine Radiation from Space, producing and editing 6 issues from 1995 to 1999. He is a artistic generalist, Poet, Vocalist, DJ and Composer. He has performed with various popular musical ensembles across Australia including The Stinking Badger of Java from 1998 to 2002 and touring New Zealand with Ragamuffin Posse in 2001. He has composed music for theatre/dance The Tearoom (Chapel of Change 2001) and film Tree of Humility (Chapel of Change 2002). He was also the main organisational force behind the late night electronic music improvisation broadcasting project Dreaming Electric (3CR 1999-2003).
