Harmonica will screechas a depressed troupeof anthropomorphized candybears me to the cemeteryin my pop-tart coffin;a murder of crows will droppromissory-note confettion the solemn headsof the temporarily grievingwho, once they get home,will pop corks and dance jigs.
12.30.2013
At My Funeral
12.29.2013
Maybe Next Time A Postcard Will Do
When you start having to replacethe broken stuff you boughtto replace the shit you lostwhen she left youIt’s appropriate to noticeand not comment uponbut you’ve never stayed silentjust because it keeps the peace.
For the Real Toads weekend prompt: The World’s End
12.28.2013
12.26.2013
12.25.2013
12.24.2013
Christmas Eves of Yore
The whole familywould gather for ham dinnerwith scalloped potatoes,beer & vodka slushiesto beat the snow.You sprangfor shrimp cocktail;someone probably broughtdeer sausage.Children of all ages sat,coloring. You can see usgrow upin those coloring book pages.I never won anythingfrom my scratch-ticket prizes,and don’t buy them now.But I feel lucky
because I still see you laughing.
12.23.2013
Luminance
Starshineand twinkly lites,licking sugar on air,drum cacophony celebratesChristmas.King of the Hill, six episodeslater and you’re ready.No mistletoe,but kiss.
Sharing this older holiday poem today in the Imaginary Garden, where it’s Open Link Monday. This poem is from my first book, Responsive Pleading.
12.22.2013
Untitled Drive
Sun shines through a slush-speckled windshield, renderingher heart warmed, wool-wrapped.Earlier, unravelingskeins soaked in a frigid rain.
Tanka for Real Toads!
12.19.2013
Summer Street, as Winter Solstice Approaches
Flame-pink skyframedby a laneof pastel cottages:Why am I wearing black?
12.18.2013
Christmas Recess
Fullmoon,twinklylites eclipsedby Santa’s shadowboozing down the Chimney tonite--
For Peggy’s prompt to the Real Toads: Holiday Memories
12.17.2013
12.15.2013
my freedom song
by Tom (Twilite) Clark
do not expect fancy wordsthere is nothing pretty herewhen they slam shut my cage
my jailers keep looking at mewatching me pisswatching me sleepthe air a stale sweatof urine and shitthe floor so cold
every morning I clean the bucketsI feel no shamefor I am a manI am just a manmy captors torment methey torture my friendsI forgive them allI will standI will not bendthey will not break me
I cannot see the sunor feel it on my facethe wind a memory of time and spaceyet just beyond these wallsdazzled birds sing my freedom songbrilliant jewels in plumage finecolors so vivid so brightI see them nowI hear them singRolihlahla Rolihlahlatroublemakerpulling the branch of the treeRolihlahla Rolihlahlasing for mesing my freedom song
Mediba, Medibaour brother, our sonour family all togetherwe must live as oneTata father grandfatherteach us howmother sister daughterwe must live togetherwork together love togetherlaugh and dance and singtogether now as one
I am not this islandbarren and bleakI am not this outpost of hatred and fearI am not
always and foreverI am the captain of my soulglowing with spirit lightbut in this prisongroaning heavy with footstepsa clamor of screamsand a clang clank of voicesthere is nothing to do but wait27 years I waitmy whole life I wait
and tomorrow is the same today as the day beforebroken like my fate upon these stonesand my lips are the lips of birdslonely and alonesinging my freedom song
Rolihlahla Rolihlahlatroublemakerpulling the branch of the treeRolihlahla Rolihlahlasing for mesing my freedom song
we are together heremy comrades and Iwe rot here in this prisonbut we do not die
because we believewe will fight and endurewe will be free
Rolihlahla Rolihlahlatroublemakerpulling the branch of the treeRolihlahla Rolihlahlasing my freedom songsing for meand the brilliant plumage like jewels I seeand the dazzled birdsnow they sing for memy freedom song
Tom Clark, aka Tommy Twilite, is the founding co-director of Florence Poets Society and is my friend. I was lucky to have the opportunity to hear Tommy read his poem for Nelson Mandela aloud this past week--so incredibly powerful. I am thrilled to share Tommy’s words with my blog readers and with the Real Toads, where Kerry has posted a moving tribute to Madiba. If you have comments about Tommy's poem, I will be pleased to share them with him.
12.14.2013
If Cats Could Talk
The cat took a pissin my tall boots.What is she trying to say?Previously, she pissedin my pink scuff slippers& two perfectly goodunmatched Converse sneakers.Apparently, I haven’tgotten the message yet.It must be aggravatingto express yourselfagain & again,yet not be understood.Wait, I know how that feels.
12.13.2013
Dinner With A Ghost
The ghost is eating pizza,nodding silentlyas if he approvesof our conversation.I wish he’d say something,anything--but he chooses not to,stays mum & sullen.It’s hard not to assumeyou’re responsiblein the faceof the silent treatment--But I’ll brush it off,focus my attention elsewhere& hope that, in time,he comes around.
My ten-year-old son gave me the first line, and approves of the resulting poem, though says he thinks it’s rather sad. This is for Corey’s prompt to the Real Toads: ALL IN THE FAMILY
12.10.2013
12.08.2013
This Time Of Year
Pain piles ondistracted HopeWhat does it mean to PraiseI can’t even hearthe Music
Kim has the Real Toads singing praise: Hallelujah
12.05.2013
Coffee With Leonard Cohen
Friends, I can’t tell you how excited I am about this announcement from ALL CAPS PUBLISHING:ALL CAPS PUBLISHING is pleased to announce publication of a very special collection of poetry--Coffee With Leonard Cohen by our favorite entomologist-poet, Joy S Grape.
I’ve long been a follower of Joy S Grape’s blog; perhaps you have, too. I find Joy’s poetry intriguing and enveloping, creative and quirky, sometimes like an object you come across and attempt to find a name for, other times familiar like a childhood friend. I’m so excited about Joy having collected these poems, and many illustrations, too, into a volume that I can hold in my hands and ingest as a whole. It’s really a treat, and I can’t wait for my copy to arrive. Get yours now!Here’s how Joy describes herself, hah:
Joy S Grape is interested in lots of things. She looks under rocks for a living. Her favorite literary romance is Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. She would love it if you would stop by her little blog: Coffee With Leonard Cohen
You know you want to read it. Click here to purchase a copy from Amazon. You might also like to read the announcement over at ALL CAPS and/or browse our authors and titles. And visit Joy’s blog, too. Trust me on this!
12.04.2013
Unsleeping, or Freezing, or Treading Water
for Mark Kelliher
Funny, your stitchin my side now achesunder my breastas your leprechaun voicechills to eskimo breath& washes out like sandon Popponesset Beach.Death comes so earlythis time of year--
Linking up with Izy’s prompt to the Real Toads: ESKIMO
12.02.2013
Walk Like A Cat
Just a reminder that I have a very lovely new book out! Here's a sneak peek. Click here to get it via Amazon or let me know by email (runawaysentence at gmail) if you want to buy a signed copy directly from me. Meanwhile, I’m giving myself a break for a day or two after the frenzy that was 30 Poems In November.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)