Editor’s Note The following constructions were composed collaboratively on the afternoon of March 10, 2022, on the 3rd floor of the Delaware College of Art & Design. We started with the first line of one of Emily Dickinson’s most well-known poems, “I heard a Fly buzz – when I died,“ and then the students passed sheets of paper around using a technique called “The Exquisite Corpse” which was invented by the Surrealist group in Paris during the 1920s. Some of the connections “make sense” and some of them make other kinds of sense. This fits the surrealist project perfectly. What are the hidden resources of language? What happens when we liberate language from its ordinary and everyday sameness? Students always love this exercise because it gives them power to use language in ways that aren’t prescribed. I’m proud of my students and their approach to learning. Yes, there are a few “indelicate” moments in this book. But so be it. Let language live. Casey Smith Program Chair of Liberal Arts
1. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died While I cried - the goat bleats sadly And stubborn cows graze quite madly As chickens peck each other sadly "Cock a doodle do" said the rooster "But I don't want to wake up," said me “Five more minutes, Mom, Damn!” If she keeps rushing me I'm gonna be in a jam So I figured, I should just give her some ham To show her what she's done to this world.
2. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died I smelled a putrid man made of sludge and woes. Four knives by the back door They whisper harsh threats in public And loudly stare in private “Do we do it or…” he said confused “Whatcha tryna do?” the girl said confused as well
“Ayo why you pullin your junk out, bro?” Stop actin like a hack, Joe.
3. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died “What is this place?” “I do not want to be here” My heart gave lifeless aches “I wonder where I made this mistake…” “Maybe it is that time when I burned the town?” It made me sad… So very sad I cried so much But truth be told, I rather enjoyed it I burned all of them for my gods “Have you seen the streets, dear friend?” Lifeless mannequins wear the expressions of others Looking expectantly…
4. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died He pissed in my ear. Rude.
So I smacked him. And devoured his gallbladder as a treat! Fermented with turmeric, yellow as gold “The red wine is divine,” as my lover had told And so the taste of death. “Are you sure?” she asked, concerned. Please stop questioning me “What do you have to hide?” The fact that there are laws I can’t abide I’ve already got 5 stars, I ran a cop over Fuck.
5. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died Then the sudden sound of turtles mating “I like turtles,” said the young boy “Save the turtles!” said social media “I don’t care about no fucking turtles,” I replied I couldn't give a shit if they died Cause they already were dead, Why I would lie? Why would I tarnish my name this way?
By calling my mom a cow?
6. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died It sounded magnificent as it flew by I sat and listened and began crying as it passed Singing Bang bang into the room Like a dragon “Can I kick it?” “Can I quit it?” “Can I stop now?” He said tentatively. I didn’t know what he meant.
7. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died The sound awoke my mind’s third eye, Changing as time goes by I thought I would die again Am I better off dead? Was my life that bad That I feel death is key?
I sit there and ponder With my head on my knee: “Should I really go by the name McGee?” Morty McGee, fabulous he, Ali Ababwa There’s 104 days of summer vacation for him, But not a single one for me A crumb, please, spare A spore, please grow.
8. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died It asked me if I liked jazz, I looked at him confused, He just wanted a kiss, But he smelled like piss, And shit, As the methane cut me, I’m one drag class to dirt, I’m now with the Earth, Great Mother Gaia, take me now, May the Gods smile upon you The gods can smile all they want
but my mother still doesn’t love me I guess that’s my harsh reality.
9. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died A fat little body barely held up by little wings I saw two legs attached to it His trunk spotted and withered And all my laundry spilled to the ground "Just like that time," Gary snarled "Dude, are you a furry?" Kyle asked "Maybe.. why? You gotta problem?" "Yes I do have a problem." "You’re my problem!" "You want them? Here! Solve them!" "Show me what you’re made of!"
10. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died Maybe I’m not as dead as I thought Yet I lay here and still rot, On my old broken cot, is it worth it or not ?
So I saddled up my cow and said “why not?” Why shouldn’t I take my horse to the old town road? Because I don’t have legs to ride it So I went home and cried And what a cry it was A shriek from the valley below The monster persuasively calls In my head forever lost “Never more, I say”
11. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died – “When his kingdom comes, darkness is nigh.” And when darkness is nigh, I get high And shoot myself in the sky I fell down into a pool of sheep Deep deep within the fibers Of this old and withered baby blanket It still smells of depression “Time for the finest of creamed ice.” What if I’m allergic? Then get an Epi-pen
It’s probably over in the den Oh shoot, is that a Mercedes Benz? 12. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died — Its droning sound filled my ears, And filled my chest with dread. Not a single second of silence was spared As I laid on my back. I started to feel dizzy, Possibly having a heart attack. I rushed myself to a hospital, Only to end up at a cemetery, Not exactly my plan, but it is what it is. Woah is me, I shall take up my knife, Swiftly and light, sharpening the air, I faced the unknown without a care I stare into the dark to get strength
13. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died Died of what? You don’t want to know. I bet you want to know, but it’s sad though. Like a song stuck on mute,
I swear I could hear a flute. A sweet melody only the dying can hear, If death was a melody, the reaper is a composer. I danced to his song of death… Celebration time, come on! Sitting on my beautiful thrown, I’m so powerful looking down on you, I’m electric. Pika Pikachu!
14. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died As my soul flew away, I saw it dive Splash into the cool waves My arms sore from swimming If only I could see the land, Maybe I could float But I was too far down in the depths I sunk down I hit rock bottom When Larry came just to put him down, Sponge Bob turned into a clown.
15.
I heard a Fly buzz - when I died When I woke up, the buzzing stopped It was so strange and surreal There was a smell that was… smelly Disgusted isn’t the word I would use to describe this feeling What can make this shit go away? To give my heart a break? I’ll have a break and then some wine I’ll take my time and feel divine I’m like a god in my own mind, But in the mirror I see your reflection in my soul It stares back at me, haunting, for as long as I breathe.
16. I Heard a Fly Buzz- When I Died Grow as You May, Like a Sweet Summer Day Every Day, Every Slay Every Day I Think to Myself Why Me? Why Not Her? Have I Always Been Doomed to This Fate? Or Did I Write My Own Fate,
Sealing It with My Blood? The Seal on My Letter was Warm and Red Just Like the Deep Red Liquid Running Out of My Body We Don't Talk About Bruno No No No, We Don't Talk About Bruno Rain on My Windshield Wipe Wipe, Go the Windshield Wipers
17. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – It was quiet, and yet so profound. It was profound to the point of no return I could no longer take it. The eternal torture was just too much. Like walking a tightrope at a big show. Knowing a name, I’ll never know. How is this even possible? I destroyed all the evidence, But your voice still rings out into the air. It’s so loud yet I can’t make out the words. This noise inside me seems as though it will never stop.
18. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – Or maybe it was Static Could have Been the blood Rushing in My ears Or the sound of my Skull Collapsing inside Everything I felt - didn’t feel real My body and Mind separated Soul and spirit, one Righteous, one Unworthy I used to pray - for Times like this Rhyme like this to shine like this Make it count, play it Straight Don’t look back – don’t Hesitate
19. I heard a Fly buzz- when I diedWhen my head hit the floor, I cried Not because it hurt, because I was scared Scared of what might happen ifno when I finally tell someone
So I hid, and never vocalized my experience Jumping on clouds, getting high as Jesus Seeing who is sus- God God almighty Welcome to Hell, let's dance Baby!
20. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – Or perhaps it was a ringing in my ears My head was all fuzzy, I couldn’t comprehend My brain was on, but my body was stunted I went on Twitter and spammed Among Us memes Hate from my peers filled my inbox I don’t give a fuck about it though Put my headphones in and walk the world alone Hold my hand and be my love
21. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died A sign of struggle, of something tried. Make some harm, state chaos Then a great power can bend to your will. The force never felt so tight around my earlobe
It was strangling me with a force so strong. Spit and bile emptying from my crushed esophagus As I reach for my throat, I remember My body is supposed to feel warm.
22. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died Is this possible? How can I hear after death? How am I able to stick my tongue out and catch the fly so swiftly? It must have been my dying wish come true. She took my shining hand and wiped my tears with her hair. Her words were delicate and kind, coated in love. My heart started to flutter like a soaring dove. The sunlight shines like an evening flower, Painting the garden with its golden light. Now I am up in Heaven Breathing and seeing her delight.
23. I heard a Fly buzz- when I died-
It replays in my head like a broken record. One I had hoped would fly away. I drink every once in a while to make the buzzing going away, but I end up drenched in sweat. I drank from the bottle left coated in dust. A sensation kept flowing over me like an obsessive cloud. A sight to behold, as the cloud looks for me. But I remain hidden. The fly is back. I think I will die here.
24. I heard a Fly buzz - when I died — Its droning sound filled my ears, and filled my chest with dread, Not a single second of silence was spared as I laid on my back, I started to feel dizzy, possibly having a heart attack. I rushed myself to a hospital,
only to end up at a cemetery, Not exactly my plan, but it is what it is. Woah is me, I shall take up my knife, Swiftly and light, sharpening the air, I faced the unknown without a care.
25. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – The wings fluttering on my delicate lips It kissed what remained of my past love, still lingering a stifled song not worth singing Petals of flowers torn from each side Then comes the Spring, which shows their color again Then forms a petal of a flower more enchanting than the last creating a new blossom Thorns forming and wedging into my withered esophagus as the delicate flower eats me from the inside
26. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died-
It rattled in the chamber of my ear as it flew Tension boiled like freshly cooked stew Fire burns bright to stray our light Until Zephyr comes to shroud us in darkness Your sleeping demon Lays with me in my bed at night Keeping me awake with haunting nightmares Of vultures carrying my kindness in their fragile gullets
27. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – I had tried to shoot him in the eye. Orbs glistening like jewels in the swampy eve, I felt my ankles sink to the muddy bank, As my body and mind swiftly sank. Before dawn broke, we artists awake, To breathe new life into charcoal and stone. I rise awake, a new day to behold, Ready to wreak havoc on the world, With the fly trapped in my head.
28. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died -
I got the Fuzz – But they still hide It soon became quiet, With anything but silence It was silent, with nothing to fill the sound I felt something cold, damp slowly on my back When I reached out for it I realized it was the end There is no relief in eternal Damnation Only the sound of a final pin dropping.