Lakeland College senior Ben Wilks performed as an invited artist Thursday in “The Sheboygan Ode Project,” a night of original poetry readings at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan.
The dynamic evening featured the Young Chicago Authors – who have been serving as residents in Sheboygan for the past several weeks – and several local artists.
Last month, the Young Chicago Authors visited Lakeland College, where they met Wilks. Wilks later read some of his original work at an open mic night at Sheboygan’s Paradigm coffee house. Below is the piece he read at Thursday’s event:
Archaic Advice
Giovanni claimed to have drinks with the Lord, but I can barely listen,
To his words, echoing through my Gammas kitchen.
Searching for food, she’s grilling me about my detention,
Through my biting tells me that these could easily be suspensions
Couldn’t respond I guess,
So she popped me in my head when I ain’t mention my stress
Yeah it hurt, but then she in context, so I could see things clearer like I had contacts
(This what she told me)
She said: Your name is Benjamin,
Own that title,
You are the son of the hand most people put on the bible,
Cito Grand Grand, destined to become a great man,
And if you want to, change the world whichever way that you can.
Pay attention in class, Forget what all girls do
You kind of young to be trying to find a wife in your youth,
Ignore insults, and anyone who would throw them at you.
Weakling? Boy come here, let me show the truth
You got a wolf in your spirit, go ahead and lead yo unit,
With a dialect to call on God in your need of confusion,
With the same mind that made Jordan take it back on Ewing,
The same ambition of those who babloned those buildings,
Yes you can cry baby boy, because you are still human,
Appreciate with a limit, don’t ever be that influenced.
Please soften your soul, don’t be too hard boiled,
We need more humans out there, among true gargoyles.
Be confident, but not cocky because all milk will spoil,
But you ahead your time, so all else will follow.