in huntington beach 
watermelon jesus 
sips the tides from the ocean’s shore 
slips inside the flow of time 
hearing the surf 
break against the sand 
more    

on the baltic at night 
sitting on the rocks 
in sassnitz 
waves 
burst 
upon the shoulders 
of this forgotten man 
earth   

watermelon jesus 
and the south china sea 
hong kong 
and the gateway to the pacific 
looking out 
sees himself so many days before 
on another continent 
and flashed 
to 
uganda 
at night on lake victoria   

it is the same water 
it is the same time 
it is the same earth   

but watermelon jesus 
is different   

the next ocean 
and the river styx 
watermelon jesus 
with pennies on his eyes

there are secrets
beautiful to behold
when one walks
the other path

Some of the questions I receive from all variety of people who are interested in how an artist thinks are generalized in the question “How did you conceive your product?” I.e. “The Question is Tolstoy’s Beard” a collection of 32 poems all somehow themed around Tolstoy’s Beard. At readings and conferences people ask “Why?” “How?” “Where does the inspiration come from?” When does inspiration happen?”

So, I am launching a new project for Wick House. “Watermelon Jesus and the Jagged Halo”.

What!? Where in the world did that come from?

Well, so it was a dark and stormy…morning. 4:30a.m. alarm goes off and I leave to walk four dogs in the Chinese morning without looking outside before I go. I arrive at the bottom floor of our tenement high-rise and find that it’s raining. Not going back up with four dogs. I will walk in the rain. And I did. And it was horrible. Cracks of thunder. Buckets of monsoon version rain. Dark. Flooding. Even the dogs were miserable.

Then, I have to go back inside. I have four drenched dogs. I am wet. I am not smiling. There has been no coffee. I am wet. The dogs shake and I know I will have to wipe down walls and mop floors. This is before 5a.m. and does not signal the beginning of a good day.

I have to ride to school on my electric scooter in my huntington beach surf shorts and a tshirt and dress in my classroom. I have to deliver a candle to nicholas deneberg so he can do a devotional for teachers. It is in my backpack. It has three wicks. It is scented. I need coffee and decide to make a pot as soon as i hit my classroom.

I am filling the pot. I am dropping the pot. It is breaking. I pick up the handle and it is connected to a jagged circle of glass. Nicholas walks in to ask for the candle. “It is scented” I say. He smiles and wiffs “Ahh, Watermelon Jesus.” He leaves. I write on my board. Watermelon Jesus and the Jagged Halo. It resonated with the odd broken spastic start to the day. And a project is born.

if my plane went down today
and i were now dead.
no cares no past no future.
here.
in heaven on earth.
would i be watermelon jesus

Happy Holidays

Mike Klumpp, a native of New Orleans is currently living and working in Saltville, Virginia. Mike is a pastor, poet, author and martial artist. Mike has had successful careers in business and as an actor/director. Mike would like to connect with you and your organization.

klumpp.blog

What will you find?

• Snippets of stories
• Updates on books
• Information on travels
• Contact information
• Information for booking Mike as a speaker

For more information on Mike or to book him:

phone

• +1 276 378 6762

email

• mikeklumpp@yahoo.com

Wick House Authors & Illustrators

Click the link for a look at Wickhouse Publishing and Mike Klumpp