Diary Of The Modern God

It was the beauty of
that date, the clearness
of the morning's
possibility that
destroyed our well-
being. Imagine a fiery
bird hanging on a
word. And a
subjugated sun and the
plumes that made
history. The largeness
of dread, of humanity
scrambling, covered
with dust and the
violence of futility.
Those were anxious
moments before the
spade. The polemical
sense of innocence
and provocation. And
the cloud of horror in
the order to go about
our day.


This was a poem I wrote in 2003. It has previously been published in a very fine litmag, but first it was rejected by The New Yorker magazine. I wrote the poem with every intention of publishing it there. There were so many lame poems being published on the internet about what happened on September 11, 2001 that I wanted to write the great poem for the ages about that date. Sort of what the Inaugral Poet should have accomplished for Barack Obama. I personally believe I did accomplish that with this poem. History will decide. The great literary critic Frank Lentricchia of Duke University (called the Dirty Harry of Literary Criticism) said the poem was simply too sophisticated for The New Yorker. His comment made me feel OK about not getting in that rag. But still I wanted the poem published there because I thought the readers would have appreciated it.

DIARY OF THE MODERN GOD is a first book of photographs by M Sarki using poems and essays chronicling life as the poet sees it. An original, M Sarki has been published in some of the best new rags and continues to break more ground with new work in film. A study of America, and what it means to be a citizen, Diary of the Modern God begs the questions too few ask.

M Sarki is an accomplished poet with three notable collections to his credit. More recently, his verse appeared in the latest two issues of NY Tyrant and in every issue of Unsaid . M Sarki's books include ZIMBLE ZAMBLE ZUMBLE, LITTLE WAR MACHINE, MEWL HOUSE, and DIARY OF THE MODERN GOD. Sarki's first feature film ALPHONSO BOW is an official selection of the Los Angeles Dances With Film film festival and has recently been named an official selection of the Derby City Film Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. The film premieres in Louisville February 20, 2010. He is currently writing another screenplay for Nut Bucket Films.

The following video poem Mewl House in September, which I began the article with in its written form, is now read by me accompanied by an uncredited photograph that depicts the scene of that horrible day. For whatever reason, this hub gets little attention and I do not know why. Whether it is the announcement of my book of photography or the emphasis placed on this poem, something leads me to believe there is little acceptance for this particular work. I believe art should have to be accessible but also it must make the reader work on his or her own behalf to become collaborator in something larger than oneself. It saddens me to think my readers do not get this, which in my opinion is one of the very best things I have ever produced.  Please humor me and take the time to read and listen. It was an important day in all of our lives. It changed our world forever.