Kafka

Early April evening; New York balcony

Spiritual download:

Kafka

KAFKA

KAFKA...

I know the name somewhat.

Generalities; not enough

Inside, return, computer

Research:

Franz Kafka-

Prague-born (Austro-Hungarian Empire)

German-speaking Jew

Resided in a predominantly Czech-speaking city

Dual community outsider; dual identity

Alienated, unsettled

A minority within a minority.

Screen share moment; personal enticement

Resonating, reading more, ruminating, reflection

`

An insurance salesman who hated his job.

Soul-crushing work

Paid the bills at the cost of his writing

His "prayers"

Belittled, berated, besmirched, branded-

By father; domineering, hulking, successful

Employment burdened, he c r a w l e d

Through his existence

Communication- not; home/family-silence

`

DEAD at FORTY

Tuberculosis, specifically throat-closed starvation

"Burn all my documents."

A dying bedside wish-

Denied: published, pressed, pronounced

Words finally heard

Penned " Kafkaesque"

Complexities, surrealism, unnecessary trappings

A no-escape nightmare

Notoriety, post World War II

Unknown author to influential literature figure

Healing from Isolation

Incomprehensible Bureaucratic/Social Systems

Birth after death...

`

Kafka

KAFKA

KAFKA

April evening, New York balcony

My spiritual download.

Message from history

Personal/Collective

Voice Vacancy Violates Volition.

Message Received

...

My entry in Tim Carmichael's unofficial challenge is an odd one, for sure, and is actually based on a spiritual download I received last evening while sitting on my New York balcony.

"Kafka," repeated, and while I vaguely knew the name, I most certainly had to know more. So, I researched, dedicating several hours to learning more about this man, who lived from 1883 to 1924. If interested, I encourage readers to learn more about Franz Kafka.

I feel my piece likely falls short of the "ideal" expectations for a time-traveler poem. But I enter it anyway, knowing that my "downloads" always hold specific meaning; sometimes for only me, sometimes for others, too. Honestly, I could have expanded, but a 200-word limit means exactly that.

Thanks to anyone who reads, and thanks to Tim for creating this challenge!