Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Poem #18 Not today

Today I shall not
use the word "like"
to introduce a metaphor
in a poem

I shall not
mention Jack Kerouac
more than 5 times
(zero seemed too lofty)

Today I shall not
forget to be thankful
for something,
no matter how small

I shall not
forget to buy
flowers on the way home
(for no reason than to
brighten her day)

Today I shall not
be a deliberate
obstacle to change

I shall not
get drunk
except on ideas

Today I shall not
should on myself
excessively

I shall not
foist my views
on others

Today I shall not
assume the worst
about others

I shall not
overburden myself
with "rules"

It's kind of like
a forced march
with no destination

...oops





Contributed to dVersePoets.com
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Poem #17-2012 Pittsburgh

We're in Pittsburgh

We stop at a restaurant

The waitress says,

"What'll yinz have?"

We are definitely in Pittsburgh





Contributed to dVersePoets.com
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Poem #16-2012 Nature Lessons

A raven
(which is a crow but not vice versa)
will chase a chipmunk

I've seen it happen

An argument over the pile of seed I leave
under the maple tree
(I guess - ravens don't kill for meat, do they?)

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush....

Round the trunk twice
Raven hop-running
Chipmunk scurrying
Then, a bee-line for cover

The raven takes wing
chasing the competitor clear over
to my brush pile

and safety



Contributed to dVersePoets.com
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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Poem #15-2012 Fire Danger Today

Hearth visitors
drown in the miracle
of my fire

It lures them close
before
turning them to instant ash

Neither fire nor victim
aware of the danger
until survival
is out of the question



Contributed to dVersePoets.com
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Monday, August 13, 2012

Poem #14-2012 Jack Attack


Jack, Jack, Jack
Ti Jean
Kerouac
Ti Pousse
Mickey, Michael, Leo
Francis, Peter
Zagg, Wesley
Sal, Ray
Mike, Robert
Richard

Maggie Cassidy, Tristessa, Satori in Paris, Doctor Sax, Visions of Cody, Desolation Angels, Big Sur, Visions of Gerard,The Town and the City, Orpheus Emerged, The Subterraneans,
Atop an Underwood, Book of Dreams, Vanity of Duluoz, The Sea is My Brother, On the Road,
The Dharma Bums, And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks

Richard
Mike, Robert
Sal, Ray
Zagg, Wesley
Francis, Peter
Mickey, Michael, Leo
Ti Pousse
Kerouac
Ti Jean
Jack, Jack, Jack



Contributed to dVersePoets.com
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This is a slam poem meant to be recited aloud from memory. It's a riff on all the characters that Jack Kerouac used for himself in his books (the latter in italics). I plan to perform it at Lowell Celebrates Kerouac this October. Wish me luck - memorization ain't easy at my age.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Poem #13-2012 Cut-Up Journal

I hope your fickle uterus disappears in a rage without explanation
Every dream dies
Good enough
A season full of lessons
Listen with the possibility of being changed
The language of deficits
Every human being is of incalculable value
Education is not neutral
What did I do today?
Maybe it's time
Destiny henceforth
You made your bed
But how short?
It's kind of a clamor
Soup sounds better
I censored myself at least 40%
Drinking bad beer is out
Sometimes nothing makes sense
Writers write
All dead as are their husbands
More is welcome -- what's been is sufficient
The Buddha was the first one to see it
Cake for everyone
Jack wrote at least 1,500 words/day
I need to stop that
The blank page
A Child's Garden of Verses
The best unknown poet alive
I am no good on my feet
I assume I'll be alone
More impressive in person
What the elders said is true
Does this help or hurt the future?
The muse comes from any direction
Poetry ought to be a refuge
Infucking competent
Wrongs I committed out of selfishness
The mindset of discovery
Generating ideas
Because of a fucking meeting
There is a poem that will save you
A psychic toll, indeed
"Order up!"
Sometimes it is all one can do
A second look
Trust me
When am I happy?
Should we get a convertible?
Timing
Creative thought is dead to me
"Who are you to ask me such a thing?"
What makes something "fun"?
Naked Lunch
In my wildest dreams
PARADOX!
For an undetermined period of time
I have been the betrayer
Sparkling sin
Hovering death
Tribes
It's not. You know that.
Something needs a poem written about it today
Quit whining and do your work
Nothing matters
Tighten up
Make me believe your corvette skin
Needs too much work
No problems identified
Trust me, you are not that important
"What would you like to dip your chicken tenders in?"
I have a whole new appreciation of Cake
Beats the shit out of me
Death transcends such things
Close your trunk using a bungee cord
Waiting for the tab



Contributed to dVersePoets.com
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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Poem #12-2012 Death From Above

Hovering
black-and-white death
a few false drops
teasing the watery prey
then, head first, at
bullet speed
Spaaaa-looossssh (talons first)
Wet pause
airborne again -
one quick hover and shake

Look -  a flying fish !




Contributed to dVersePoets.com
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