A Poem is a Naked Person

Behemoth chrysalis jardenia pupa

cajoled cocoon glib metamorphoses

mutating Malachai tisane torrentials

inundated unction annoinkéd flutter

flotilla flotsam jettison jive

overboard plankton 'croscopic plunge

treading tangentials discursive drover

anon etcetera tumbledown wind

insensate shawarma pestilent pench'

Antwerp rotis succulent swank

olfactory ursine novice nostalgia

hickory-dickory button-down bloog

accolade spritzer carbarnacle chive

helios rickenback flouted danube

sunspotty splendiferous ironclad kook

Amelia mai tai finagling flamb

razzmatazz mocha machiatoto

cappuccini olsen cajumelles

avuncular holstein gaseous Kala

composite fulcrum Harry Houdin

vacillate silica pumice chauve

august battalion neutre nostrum

zenith Zimbabba Guinea M'Papa

clicky-lickspittly didgeridoo

quorummagpizance elephantine 

selective Saigon exhaustive willow 

tumaltuous scram idyllic posture

endemic slack slovenly sliver

Hancock humystic tahini trowel 

tartar embarker piña colada 

severance surrogate sobriquet saddle

gallopin' geiser fountainhead frieze 

egad eureka somnolent stench

byzantine biscuit archaic fad

munchie dysfunkty aquikerplunkty

ambient haze Carmichael clan

dubious decla krill kreplaquelustre

vertigo victual enigmastiff

precocious poodle plasmacadabra

'cession digression Brunswick brill

amorphous jiggle jaunty enjambment

quaff kybosh-flossed cellophane frill

Celsius soma crepuscule quad

stuffy sanuffly engulfed traject

oregano Sasha temporal twang 

embellished bloated obtuse drone

electrified trough bellowing blub

enchanted sacrifice cordial balm

aperitif zest theta libation

oaken betokened shilly-shall-shawl

motif elix saccharine cynosure

rosemary 'rugala ovaltine koal'.

Burden of Dreams

If you're ever under a lot of pressure to achieve a difficult goal, which seems beyond accomplishing too impossible to ever attain, perhaps watch Les Blank's Burden of Dreams as it films the making of Fitzcarraldo, and Werner Herzog's Herculean labours trying to finish the chaotic anti-epic.

Then watch Fitzcarraldo itself and consider that he actually did finish it. With setbacks that would have sent Olympic athletes home in exasperation. No matter what he got 'er done.

I don't know if these films are part of a master class in improvisational independent filmmaking, where the students study Herzog's endeavours and reach conclusions as to his methods.

Or arduously research grand ambition as applied to making international films, where extremely complicated and delicate agreements must be reached with critical Natives.

Or practically study the provision of supplies to an isolated camp deep in the jungle, where hundreds of extras and film personnel had to be well-fed to fend off the boredom.

With the deep pockets of a Hollywood studio it would have perhaps been a different story, although I imagine they would have backed out after the setbacks became too outrageous (punitive raids etc.).

Credit to Herzog for never backing down and to every cast and crew member who stuck it out till the end. 

Hyperintense ominous immersion. 

Ineffable formidable frustration. 

Heart of Darkness comes to mind and Apocalypse Now as well no doubt, as if Herzog was somewhat like Kurtz madly delegating lost in the jungle.

Interviews capture distinct moments alternative viewpoints his different moods, many of them courageous and vigorously defiant while some give way to augmented misery. 

The diaries of Les Blank and Maureen Gosling excerpts of which come with the Criterion Edition of Burden of Dreams (they used to anyway, I bought my copy 20 years ago), offer disenchanting insights into the chaos and some of the decisions that had to be made.

Still to make them to be so artistically obsessed the bona-fide-mad-genius expediently concocting, reflexively adjusting to constant insane pressure, with everyone confused seeking guidance and instruction.

While Kinski erupts in fury (Blank doesn't focus much on Kinski but you can see it in Herzog's My Best Fiend) and the threat of mutiny ubiquitously languishes. 

The absolute pursuit of compulsive artistry. 

People actually risking their lives.

I don't know if there ever was what could be considered a plan.

If there was and it was written down it should be in a museum.

Copies available for study.

With mind-bogglingly resilient discipline. 

*Cool shots of jungle animals at times.