National Poetry Month III: New poems & an ambient tune
A few more poems, to close out National Poetry Month. Dunno what led to this surge of verse of late—it’s not what I’m supposed to be writing, I’ll tell you that.
Ah, well, as previously reported, my muse can be pretty fickle and strange.
And just to prove that’s the case, I’ve added another recent ambient effort, one I’m very taken with, titled “String Theory”. Bizarro space music and incomprehensible poetry…good grief. Well, maybe now that Spring has returned to these parts I’ll feel compelled to get back to my real work, a project I shall elaborate on soon, very soon.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy today’s little treats:
Morris Ankrum
you could see the wires
stars hung off-kilter
Earth just a rubber ball
a funny shadow where
someone lurked, just out of frame
* * * * *
Those Of Us
who dream in slow motion
and have leaky prostates
and try so fucking hard
and who succeed, often in spite of themselves
and have no mother or father
and who must combat fear and depression
and who find ourselves inexplicably loved
and who are thankful for each blessed moment
and who know someday it must end
* * * * *
Foley Operator
You could hear birdsong
incongruous, but it was there
ambient chatter
shrill commentary
from the safety of the trees
* * * * *
Typecasting
I am tired of my role as resident cynic
the last angry man
critic of all he surveys
offering contempt in lieu of solutions
shouldering my burden of shame
well-versed on the subject of sin
while passionately opposing any notion of free will
* * * * *
And, finally, a few more minutes of music, a soundscape courtesy yours truly. Here’s a thought: play this while you’re reading the poetry—and let me know how the experiment goes.
Just click here: String Theory
Beautiful Desolation 
I couldn’t play the music file but enjoyed the music of the poetry nonetheless. “Those of us” is a appropriate companion piece for a class I’m currently taking called “Mourning and Trauma”. Loss, associative reflection – creative chrysalis; it’s not a linear relationship for it is complex but awareness of loss as ontological is crucial.
Thank you Cliff.
Ah, technology, you gotta love. it.
Anybody else have trouble with the music/audio file?
Nonetheless, grateful you read the piece and I hope it speaks to folks who are experiencing similar circumstances and questioning the purpose of suffering and loss.