But in the meantime, just to be active (or something!) here is some of the latest poetry I've been working on. Warning: some of it's kinda grim. But, to be positive, writing it sure helped ME feel better! Hope I haven't gone Weldon Kees on ya!!
He wanted a taste
He stood outside
on a very cold day
steamy breath
smoking air
searched for cigarette butts
in the building entrance ashtray
parka several times patched
eyes hopeful for treasure
he picked out the good butts
checked each carefully
put it in a bag if it measured up
cancer sticks we call them
searching through garbage for poison
until he found enough
the taste of the life
mostly smoked cancer sticks
back in his room
hearing the shared toilet flush
he placed a plastic bag over his head
the one he put the butts in
one by one he lit them
enjoyed the taste, a taste
the bag held in
better to enjoy, a last puff
then he put the butt down
grasped the plastic tight around his neck
and waited for life to finally be done
Victor Schwartzman
See me no more
As his mom wakes her eyes brighten
she sees him now
standing by her nursing home bed
she is so happy to see him
he does not want to see her
he wishes she was still asleep
she loves him, he loves her
love makes it worse
when he sees her blank eyes
or when he sees she knows
what she has lost
fleeting memories of what she had been
he answers her same questions
works at chatting
pushes her wheelchair
hoping it will soon be over
wishing it was him instead
knowing it will be
Victor Schwartzman
Why are we alone
ever struggled
wondered how
your friends
become smoke
vanishing
burning fire
drives smoke away
ever fought the good fight
you v. the world
principle v. reality
the loneliness
cripples your heart
friends avoid you
you deny them
why desert you
in your need
they do not want your pain
they can not help anyway
and when you feel better
you will come around
friends exist to betray you
Victor Schwartzman
Bob Solves Living in Fear
Bob lived in fear
fear of home invasions
fear of muggers
no violence in his life
but tv was full of it
Bob bought a gun
Bob watched the news
the Virginia Tech Massacre
shootings everywhere
his outside was sunny
his tv darkness was spreading
Bob looked at the gun
Bob was afraid most at work
fear of clients
meeting the public
he was paid to serve
nothing ever happened but
Bob loaded the gun
Bob held the gun
shiny heavy black metal
everyone wanted him afraid
everyone on tv
Bob pointed the gun
Bob shot the tv
Victor Schwartzman
Love: boon or pain in the ass?
we love rules as much as fences
love has two basic rules:
your partner is always right
forgive your partner’s mistakes
people have died trying to figure it out
love is
waiting for your partner to be ready
though your partner rushed you
phoning mom
when she can‘t remember how to answer the phone
love is thinking of the other person first
when the other person doesn’t remember you
love is putting your needs on the back burner
while you’re in the deep fat fryer
love is understanding
what can’t
or won’t
be done for you
love: boon or pain in the ass
Victor Schwartzman
victors@mts.net
Forgetting what is important
Every day he phones
mom in the nursing home
most days she forgets
did he call yesterday?
really?
why, he hasn’t called in a week
she tells cousins to phone him
asking if something is wrong
he phones every day
because he loves her
wants to hear her voice
feels guilty he doesn’t see her enough
and she forgets
Victor Schwartzman
1 comment:
Hi Victor,
Hope you are well - managing the old hypertension. I liked your pomes – the pissedofedness at life comes thru well.
My PB has gone up a bit after being under control, which is disappointing. Maybe the alcohol – not sure; I have reduced it by a third and I even have a few dry days – but not ready to give it up. I am finishing a writing diploma this year (off-campus) and hope to market a crime novel soon. I also write pomes, but have not written much in recent years – I can write pomes more easily when I have an attack of the black dog and imbibe fire water – rarer these days than it used to be.
I moved to a new position – copyright compliance at a college – which I want to leave in a year or two and concentrate on writing before I am too old to hold a pen or a mouse.
Regards
George
Georgee53@yahoo.com.au
Post a Comment