by Franziska Maria Bergholtz
resolve these behavioral cancers before
they become more sexually suggestive
using the method is simple
a potent message throughout the body
being “hit in the head” with a bad idea
fear, dominance, confusion, or pain
there are over a hundred emotes that let you
express yourself and swallow
women (mostly) can show off their hair
pain could also be triggering this
(especially of old people)
a great deal of tension in the neck
eye staring, and tossing
you can also produce a like effect
an opposition reflex or even a displaced behavior
take a drink of water, lean forward,
energetic and in good health
a broadcast signal to anyone
there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach
but that might just be part of the problem
there are over a dozen unique dances
you can perform; toss the head back and shake it
your airway opens and your throat can close off
these dances can only be obtained
by purchasing them for real money.
Working notes on Franziska’s poem:
When I decided on that stanza of Wordsworth’s poem, I was curious to find out how the head-tossing nowadays would differ from the peaceful, elegant dancing that’s depicted in the poem. I simply searched online for the stanza, and later on for parts of the stanza, because in its entirety it only drew up more articles on Wordsworth. It was very surprising to see that the algorithm didn’t relate those words to dancing at all. Rather, I got a whole lot of websites on the topic of horse riding, also some advice on reading female body language while on a date and an article about the best way to swallow pills. The only website referring to dancing at all gave advice on how to purchase dance moves in a video game – what a brilliant contrast do the sprightly daffodils. I really enjoyed how the algorithm focused so much more on the bodily aspects of that dancing and tossing – incidentally showing in how many ways our bodies are political. Be it in terms of sexism, capitalism or the treatment of animals – which closes the circle to ecopoetics, I suppose.