Rudy Francisco, an American spoken word poet and poetry author, began as an internet phenom as part of Button Poetry Company. After gaining popularity, he won several poetry slams while traveling the world to perform and released a poetry collection with Button Poetry, as the independent publisher. In 2017, the poetry book Helium was published from the collection.
Helium is composed of a variety of poems on different topics, such as mental illness, love, race, and self-forgiveness. For most people, describing the feelings that makeup mental illness can be very difficult. However, Rudy has been able to express these difficult feelings accurately and skillfully throughout his mental illness poetry. As the saying goes, “I couldn’t have said it better myself”, which is definitely applicable here. The poem called “When People Ask How I am Doing,” is an excellent example of his well-spoken description of mental illness. For instance, part of the passage states, “I want to say, getting out of bed has become a magic trick. I am probably the worst magician I know.”
While the idea of love is generally universal, Rudy puts a twist on this basic idea in order to open the reader’s mind to the variety of elements that make up love. Not only does he display love as magical and exceptional, he always expresses love as painful. He finds a wonderful way of meshing these two elements together to display love as a beautifully tragic experience. For example, the poem “Mess”, about toxic love, is a brilliant example of the different elements that compose love.
“… I found you, looking like a damaged wine glass.
I hugger your shatter. I cut all of my fingers
Trying to jigsaw puzzle you back together.
When it was over,
You looked at the stains on the carpet
And blamed me for making a mess.”
“Mess” by Rudy Francisco
His writing style throughout his poetry varies greatly. However, he is consistent with the use of metaphors and self-reflection through this collection of poems. For example, he includes metaphors based on the Bible and other faith references through his poetry in “Scars” and “To the Man Standing on the Corner…”. Additionally, most of these metaphors were subtly stated in some of the poems.
“… 2. Staple me to a cross.
Pierce my side with a broken promise.
I will bleed all the crippled reasons
Why you deserve one more chance.”
“Scars” by Rudy Francisco
An example of a poem that displays a moment of self-reflection is “Chameleon”. In this poem, he tells a story about a past situation. He then reflects on those situations in the present tense to express the pieces of his character that make him up today.
What I believe to be so beautiful about poetry is that it stays relevant and timeless, as well as being relatable for a variety of people going through difficult experiences. Rudy uses very visual and descriptive verbiage in be able to beautifully display and portray the picture he wants you to see, as well as the feeling he wants you to feel. “Helium” is an excellently written poetry book that lives up to the high standard that was established due to popularity that Rudy and his poetry have received. Whether you’re an experienced poetry reader or have just discovered this vivid art form, “Helium” will craft images in your mind that are painted by the metaphorical words describing universal feelings. I would recommend this piece to anyone that is willing to experience their feelings strongly and wholeheartedly during the read of this book.
