Charlie C. Petch’s Why I Was Late explores the various realms of masculinity and femininity. Using the power of pop-culture referencing, and channeling the universe of their own memory, Petch bridges both the toxic expectations of gender, and the consequences that emerge when those expectations are reluctantly met. Separated into several parts, Petch’s body of poetic confessional deconstructs like an autopsy of past lives.
Why I Was Late demonstrates all the different consequences of a heteronormative, patriarchal society. “The Ballad of Owen Hart,” detailing the 1999 death of the pro-wrestling icon on a live PPV:
“and to win
you cannot be Owen Hart
who saves every dime for his family
who comes from Canadian royalty
You have to put on costumes
that make you feel foolish
You have to be The Blue Blazer” (25)
Much of the poem depicts the absurd faithfulness in taking one for the team, and the animalistic sense of courage certain environments will pressure young men into. I kept thinking about The Dark Side of the Ring episode, featuring accounts from those close to Owen, and the moments Jim Ross, was talking about the moments that followed, when discussed the backstage revelations that unfolded, and that he screamed to Producer, Kevin Dunn, “Owen Hart is Dead,” and Kevin Dunn responded, “Yes, he is, and you’re back on live, in five, four, three, two, one.” Watching that scene from the docudrama series, I wasn’t surprised by such a cruel, callous statement, because this can be the nature of men, the absolute will to keep a show going, even when the world doesn’t want to keep watching. This poem in meaningful ways illustrates the lack of care that was shown to men as pure as Owen, who grew up loving this business only to be destroyed by it.
