CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) B&W 3-D. 79 Min. Geologists in the Amazon discover a Devonian skeletal hand that suggests a link between sea and land animals. The expedition is terrorized by the Gill-man, who wants to spawn with the female in the group.
According to Biology
Life originated from the sea
When a creature crawled onto land
With one webbed hand.
The female biologist among them, stung
By the intimate kiss of a lizard’s tongue —
So green its scales of slimy latex —
Was repulsed by 1950’s sex.
This piscine amphibious humanoid
Was resurrected from the void.
What did such a creature represent
If not the spawning age of consent?
Or might this creature be something dark
From the past of a racist patriarch
Who plundered with superior forces
Countries of their natural resources?
Turner, outraged by diplomatic brinksmanship,
Blasted England with his “Slave Ship.”
When it came to political art, he set the tone,
Indicting the drowning of slaves from the Zong.
Perhaps the Gill-man was one of these,
Like Beloved, who crawled to Sethe’s knees,
A haunt of what Americans refuse to see:
Mass genocide paying capitalism’s fee.
Meanwhile, there’s still the Black Lagoon
From which the Captain is not immune.
“The Black Lagoon is heaven, don’t you see?
I’ll let you go to heaven if you let me.”
[Disposable Poem January 20, 2016]
Dr. Mike
Because when it’s that good you have to sing about it!
Every creature has his day, but some have two!
Advertisements
