Reinvention: Poems - Softcover

Emmett, Rik

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1770416277 ISBN 13: 9781770416277

Publisher: a misFit book, 2021

Synopsis

Poetry from beloved lead guitarist of the multi-platinum record selling legendary band Triumph

Reinvention is a largely autobiographical collection of poetry — a project that followed on the heels of Rik Emmett retiring from a touring musician’s and college educator’s life in early 2019. Inside all of the slashes that define him — singer/songwriter/guitarist/rock star/teacher/columnist — writing has always been his strongest avocation, and the poetic style of “Ultra Talk,” in particular, offered a welcome spark for a songwriter’s freedom of expression. This creative license is organized under seven headings – The Humanities, Life & Death, There’s Politics in Everything, Double Helix, Soapbox Sermonettes, Time Time Time, and Ars Nova 2020.

Rik’s poetry (literally) reinvents his own retirement, and it’s not just some aging dilettante’s bucket list fancy. He discovered a sincere way to tie up a lot of loose ends, fulfill dormant promise, and eschew show biz tangents. Reinvention, his first book, makes some sense of a life that always went in a lot of different directions at once. Finally, he’s given himself permission to chase a mode of self-expression with less commercial potential … than jazz guitar recordings.

About this title

About the Author

Rik Emmett is in three Canadian “Halls” and two “Walks of Fame.” After 12 platinum LPs in his Triumph years, Rik produced 20 indie projects, from rock and blues to jazz, folk, and classical. His latest release is Folk Songs for the Farewell Bonfire. An avowed family man, he’s been married for 45 years; he was also a Guitar Player magazine columnist for more than a dozen years and an educator for a few decades at Humber College. Rik is Artistic Director Emeritus of the SongStudio Workshop, and a published poet and cartoonist. He lives in Burlington, Ontario.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Reinvention (Four)

So, this happened: the rise of grunge
and the fall of an arena rock / corporate house of cards cartoon character.
Then nine years into the inevitable transition
(for the only constant is Change),
an original muse strung in nylon invited me back to the start,
to reconnect to the sharing
of simple, humble gifts.

“Too talented for his own damn good.”
Never talented enough for his own sacred yearnings.

What is the point?
In a world full of percentage points,
penetration points into demographic pie slices
one eventually trains their courage of convictions
on the pull of their own magnetic north.

How long does it take for you to learn to trust your gut?

Shakespeare’s Polonius remarks “to thine own self be true”,
but George Bernard Shaw says life isn’t about finding yourself,
it’s about creating yourself.
Yes.
And then recreating. And reinventing.

Ah, artists… with their Groucho Marx perversion,
refusing to belong to a club
that would have the likes of them as a member.
Organize artists? Like trying to herd cats.

Still the wheel keeps on turning
the river keeps on running
the tide keeps on ebbing and flowing
even magnetic north keeps moving.
Why, in the last 150 years, the pole has wandered about 685 miles.

So go.
Go with the motion.
Honour your humble gifts.
Respect them and do them justice.
Choose what feels sacred.
Serve others.
Strive to be virtuous.
Pass along the flame of Prometheus.
And leave the campsite better than you found it.

Edition details

• Publisher: a misFit book
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1770416277
• ISBN 13: 9781770416277
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 120