Sarah Blake‘s new book of poetry, Mr. West , is an “unauthorized lyric biography of Kayne West,” where the rapper serves as the muse for Blake’s poetry. Blake spends years thinking about West as father, son, boyfriend, husband, celebrity, genius. Through her poetry, Kanye becomes as sharp and multifaceted as a diamond, with a reflection that changes every time you look at it. Released on March 9, Mr. West is a unique and risky book. We’re happy to excerpt three of Blake’s poems — a selection that deals with Taylor Swift, the MTV Movie Awards, and “I Am a God.” Click through to read them.
God Created Night and It Was Night
Let there be Kanye at the wheel of a black SUV. Let Kanye fall asleep. Let the SUV hit another car with another man. Let that man’s legs break and be broken. Let Kanye be trapped in the car. Let there be the men that cut him out.
And there was evening and there was morning.
Let Kanye’s mother and girlfriend arrive. Let the women take care of him. Let Kanye see his face. Let the doctor reconstruct his face. Let Kanye have the breath of life. Let Kanye lie that he had not fallen asleep.
And there was evening and there was morning.
Let Kanye tell the truth. Let Kanye’s jaw be wired shut. Let Kanye write a song. Let Kanye sing it through that wire. Let the song reach over all the earth. Let lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon Kanye.
Bring forth Kanye according to his kind.
From Mr. West by Sarah Blake. Courtesy of Wesleyan University Press, March 2015.
Taylor Doesn’t Speak Out About Racism
People are upset because Kanye’s talking about Taylor again.
He apologizes without apologizing. He speaks out. He rehashes. But this time
he says, “Taylor never came to my defense at any interview . . .” So the media writes as if little girls all over the country are upset again.
But I’ve read the comments and I think it’s some of Taylor’s white knights
who keep up with these articles. Who else says “waste a shell on this POS”?
I’m starting to blame her, too. She could sing a song about it that makes a little more sense. She could say, Don’t hate him.
From Mr. West by Sarah Blake. Courtesy of Wesleyan University Press, March 2015.
God’s Face Over Gold
Kanye West has a god’s face over gold. But his eyes are like man’s. His voice overflows. So it must be his mouth, his tongue unrolled. Kanye West has a god’s face over gold. I think he hears prayers when nights are cold. He can’t be a man when his heart’s a rose. Kanye West has a god’s face over gold. But his eyes are like man’s. His voice overflows.
From Mr. West by Sarah Blake. Courtesy of Wesleyan University Press, March 2015.