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Back in October of 2011, I was chasing the story of promoter Mike Kelley, who once seemed like a bright hope for a rejuvenated live goth music scene in Houston, but instead ended up leaving a trail of disappointed bands and concertgoers behind him. But in the course of my research, I made the acquaintance of Kahna of Brutal Promotions, who has been bringing dark rock and hard metal to Houston since 2008. Like most people in the music scene, I friended her on Facebook as a means to keep tabs on any news that might make a good story.
As a promoter, Kahna is a consummate professional, and maintains a small but extremely dedicated following that makes her a one of the surer bets in town. You want someone to tear up a stage in black leather; give her a call. That's not an aspect of her we're celebrating today, though. It's the fact that she is a completely unheralded poetic genius.
Kahna muses about politics and metal on her Facebook page, but she does so in these bizarre, unintentional quatrains and other forms of verse that turn basic sentiments into honest-to-God-of-Thunder poetry. She's like e e cummings meets Nick Cave, at once utterly defiant of convention but still anchoring her thoughts to universal emotions. Well, universal if you like metal, that is.
Over the course of the last several months of noticing these gems I've occasionally suggested that Kahna begin looking for forums to get her poetry, which she assures me is accidental, out into the world. Since she's declined, I've taken it upon myself to introduce you to my favorites among her profane yet profound poems.
1. Drain Your Mind
drain your mind
of all negativity
choke it the fuck
out and refill it
with music
and madness
2. At My Gun Shop
can't believe i'm fucking sitting
at my gun shop waiting for that
fucktard to hand down some
new declaration of gun control.
time for a revolution.
3. Music
music, MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC!
no matter how you listen,
stay tuned in, turned on
and turned the fuck up
4. "The Mysteries That Bind the Flesh"
one of my favorite songs
in the entire fucking world
by one of my favorite bands.
The mysteries that bind the flesh
5. The Man I Love
the man I love
pulled a loaded
gun on me today.
I am alright, and
so is he. this is my
solemn vow to never
fucking trust again.
6. Music is Healing
let what has been
fucking be and strive
for a better now.
music is healing,
so are friends and
family.
Follow @hprocksoff
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