when i woke i had you on my mind
i must have sung your song ten thousand times
and every time i start
it's like cannons in my heart
going off half-cocked
while i'm half blind
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
roma sunlight
yesterday i again noticed
the appealing angle of roma sunlight
how golden is the morning at eight
in late April by the river
you cannot avoid the glow
you wouldn't want to
the appealing angle of roma sunlight
how golden is the morning at eight
in late April by the river
you cannot avoid the glow
you wouldn't want to
morning bird
there is a bird in the morning
quite loud and near
i thought he was caged
in spring he returns
like blackie who visited for years
who would have imagined we'd find a new bird associate in the heart of roma
best friends you take when they appear
and birds are the same
paolo above us leaves at six ten like a ghost into smoke
then the soldier above him closes, loudly locks his door and clomps down the stairs in heavy military boots
the floor below ours has a broken step
he hits it everytime
then slams the front door and shakes the building
the bird in the morning
starts before paolo
and leaves before the soldier
quite loud and near
i thought he was caged
in spring he returns
like blackie who visited for years
who would have imagined we'd find a new bird associate in the heart of roma
best friends you take when they appear
and birds are the same
paolo above us leaves at six ten like a ghost into smoke
then the soldier above him closes, loudly locks his door and clomps down the stairs in heavy military boots
the floor below ours has a broken step
he hits it everytime
then slams the front door and shakes the building
the bird in the morning
starts before paolo
and leaves before the soldier
Monday, April 28, 2008
hard as stone
To the store. It's eleven a.m. and she's in the air out'a here. To the store. I need water.
At Despar, as in desperate, I got milk for cereal and orange juice. They didn't have the water I wanted and with one cashier and fifty people and a couple dogs in line, I put back the milk and orange juice, pulled my empty cart home, then passed another half mile to the other side of our neighborhood to our least favorite store.
When I got there workmen were cementing the wall in the middle of the entrance and exit isle. The other three hundred shoppers jammed in the doorway didn't seem to notice.
I got milk. They didn't have skinless. Got orange juice in a strange set of containers that I couldn't see cause they were wrapped up in dark plastic, and I got water. Again, not the kind I wanted, but there were six of them and I brought the cart to get it home.
I waited in line with twenty-five older shoppers, and I didn't call them old ladies cause I know they're tough and if you blink or quit paying attention they'll squeeze in front of you. When it was my turn to go for the register on the left, straight or to the right I saw a guy come out'a nowhere and go left, so I went straight and was third in the new line. Nobody said anything about the line cutter, including me, cause we all know we'll do it when we have the chance.
When the clerk tallied up my stuff I gave her a fifty bill cause it was all I had. They usually ask for exact change but she took it and gave me over forty-five euros in change. They don't, can't or won't count back change ever. So when I saw my purchase cost less then five euros I took it and stuffed it and the receipt in my pocket wondering how I faired today. Years ago I would have counted it and helped the clerk out if she gave me too much, but that was years ago. Now I take it and hope for the best. For all the torture they put us through going shopping it is worth a good break once in a while.
I am supposed to have low calcium for my kidneys. The water I bought probably builds strong teeth and bones and maybe hardens cement for highways.
At home I had to use pliers to open the water, so the guy who fills the bottles out back with a hose must use glue on the lids so you feel it's really sealed.
I added up the figures on the receipt and found it correct. I didn't make any extra today, but I'm home and she's still flying. Next week she'll go shopping cause she always thinks ahead. I can wait around and see what we're going to eat and I know we will cause she gets hungry first.
Sail on, silver girl.
At Despar, as in desperate, I got milk for cereal and orange juice. They didn't have the water I wanted and with one cashier and fifty people and a couple dogs in line, I put back the milk and orange juice, pulled my empty cart home, then passed another half mile to the other side of our neighborhood to our least favorite store.
When I got there workmen were cementing the wall in the middle of the entrance and exit isle. The other three hundred shoppers jammed in the doorway didn't seem to notice.
I got milk. They didn't have skinless. Got orange juice in a strange set of containers that I couldn't see cause they were wrapped up in dark plastic, and I got water. Again, not the kind I wanted, but there were six of them and I brought the cart to get it home.
I waited in line with twenty-five older shoppers, and I didn't call them old ladies cause I know they're tough and if you blink or quit paying attention they'll squeeze in front of you. When it was my turn to go for the register on the left, straight or to the right I saw a guy come out'a nowhere and go left, so I went straight and was third in the new line. Nobody said anything about the line cutter, including me, cause we all know we'll do it when we have the chance.
When the clerk tallied up my stuff I gave her a fifty bill cause it was all I had. They usually ask for exact change but she took it and gave me over forty-five euros in change. They don't, can't or won't count back change ever. So when I saw my purchase cost less then five euros I took it and stuffed it and the receipt in my pocket wondering how I faired today. Years ago I would have counted it and helped the clerk out if she gave me too much, but that was years ago. Now I take it and hope for the best. For all the torture they put us through going shopping it is worth a good break once in a while.
I am supposed to have low calcium for my kidneys. The water I bought probably builds strong teeth and bones and maybe hardens cement for highways.
At home I had to use pliers to open the water, so the guy who fills the bottles out back with a hose must use glue on the lids so you feel it's really sealed.
I added up the figures on the receipt and found it correct. I didn't make any extra today, but I'm home and she's still flying. Next week she'll go shopping cause she always thinks ahead. I can wait around and see what we're going to eat and I know we will cause she gets hungry first.
Sail on, silver girl.
spectacular trash
very colorful, looks great
that's why they pass it out or mail it
you don't lack a pack, do you?
i have extra
what's the use
i'm cleaning up the scraps
the museo di roma in trastevere
printed well, nice pictures
two brochures on quality paper
my expired bus pass
a restaurant receipt
another thing from who knows where
on and on, taking up space
trees are cut and turned to mush
so we can rush this stuff home
put a happy face sticker on it
and throw it away
have a nice day
that's why they pass it out or mail it
you don't lack a pack, do you?
i have extra
what's the use
i'm cleaning up the scraps
the museo di roma in trastevere
printed well, nice pictures
two brochures on quality paper
my expired bus pass
a restaurant receipt
another thing from who knows where
on and on, taking up space
trees are cut and turned to mush
so we can rush this stuff home
put a happy face sticker on it
and throw it away
have a nice day
Sunday, April 27, 2008
double up
a break in tradition from
the occasional chinese food luncheon
this sunday we went to bufetto due
meri had a salad
i ordered the giant house pizza
thirty seconds after my pizza arived
i was cutting it when it did
an involuntary triple axle grand slam
inverted one hundred eighty degrees
and smashed itself face down into my lap
after lunch we walked to the stone benches
in front of palazzo farnese and sat a few minutes
i was examining the pizza stains on my pants
when a bird flew over and shit on my hands
both of them
how was your sunday?
the occasional chinese food luncheon
this sunday we went to bufetto due
meri had a salad
i ordered the giant house pizza
thirty seconds after my pizza arived
i was cutting it when it did
an involuntary triple axle grand slam
inverted one hundred eighty degrees
and smashed itself face down into my lap
after lunch we walked to the stone benches
in front of palazzo farnese and sat a few minutes
i was examining the pizza stains on my pants
when a bird flew over and shit on my hands
both of them
how was your sunday?
nico's day
my friend nico is ninety-five today
if i see him i'll greet him
this guy is full of love for the world
and energy
if i see him i'll greet him
this guy is full of love for the world
and energy
the bridge - ponte
the weather is fine
no jacket needed
just shoulder pads
what a crunch
so friday was rome's birthday
i asked a roman why saturday was packed
it's the ponte, the bridge
you don't just have a day
you have a season
they always need a day or more
on either side of a holiday
to get into it
and to recover
no jacket needed
just shoulder pads
what a crunch
so friday was rome's birthday
i asked a roman why saturday was packed
it's the ponte, the bridge
you don't just have a day
you have a season
they always need a day or more
on either side of a holiday
to get into it
and to recover
like a dream
it must have been our age
because it was as if the radio had just been invented
we knew the tunes and they had our number
how well i remember the hits of '58
fifty years ago i was thirteen
the edsel, the hula hoop and BOAC
began the first transoceanic service
we looked both ways before crossing
we had our heads on properly
were looking at life right straight ahead
mom had to keep telling me
not to slam the screen door
because it was as if the radio had just been invented
we knew the tunes and they had our number
how well i remember the hits of '58
fifty years ago i was thirteen
the edsel, the hula hoop and BOAC
began the first transoceanic service
we looked both ways before crossing
we had our heads on properly
were looking at life right straight ahead
mom had to keep telling me
not to slam the screen door
Saturday, April 26, 2008
i feel like you
i feel like you
that doesn't mean that i feel as if i like you
it means i feel about as you feel
but not completely
i don't wake up groping for the keys to your car
in my pocket or anything
i don't feel like that
now i'm not sure what i mean
or how i feel about it
so forget it
how do you feel about that?
listen, some of the stuff i write is crap
i know that, that's what writers are good at
the point is
it's not like i'm hiding it
i put it out with a purpose
two more, juliano. yeah, the red.
like you, i can recognize a good poem
and wonder how many did emily dickenson or robert frost leave buried in a drawer
sarah teasdale, i like her work also
geeze, i mention a couple of poets and feel like i've got to keep naming them
what i want to say is that
everyone has a different voice
every poet makes that choice
and when words work hot it's a kind of magic
when not - more like deforestation - nearly tragic
we'd learn if we could read
the partial poems the poets put aside
examine what was rejected
those things the great ones let slide
most often go undetected
so now this one is lying there like road kill
so enjoy it like sneaking through someone's refrigerator
that doesn't mean that i feel as if i like you
it means i feel about as you feel
but not completely
i don't wake up groping for the keys to your car
in my pocket or anything
i don't feel like that
now i'm not sure what i mean
or how i feel about it
so forget it
how do you feel about that?
listen, some of the stuff i write is crap
i know that, that's what writers are good at
the point is
it's not like i'm hiding it
i put it out with a purpose
two more, juliano. yeah, the red.
like you, i can recognize a good poem
and wonder how many did emily dickenson or robert frost leave buried in a drawer
sarah teasdale, i like her work also
geeze, i mention a couple of poets and feel like i've got to keep naming them
what i want to say is that
everyone has a different voice
every poet makes that choice
and when words work hot it's a kind of magic
when not - more like deforestation - nearly tragic
we'd learn if we could read
the partial poems the poets put aside
examine what was rejected
those things the great ones let slide
most often go undetected
so now this one is lying there like road kill
so enjoy it like sneaking through someone's refrigerator
Friday, April 25, 2008
ok start here
meditation is a discipline
who needs all this laughter
and funny stuff
just give me some boredom
and a book to read
i am old cause i don't get fashion,
style, mode, loud music
mr. humblegger, your table is ready
who cares
who needs all this laughter
and funny stuff
just give me some boredom
and a book to read
i am old cause i don't get fashion,
style, mode, loud music
mr. humblegger, your table is ready
who cares
lincoln speak
i had a friend, jordan, whose grandfather was a slave
he told me that when his grandfather was a boy
in the south people gathered on a hill somewhere
to hear abraham lincoln speak
the grandfather was blind since birth, and an old man
when he told jordan
how he heard lincoln's sharp voice, high-pitched, clear like a trumpet over the crowd
i can let those words set
and ring in your head
like lincoln's must have done
to that boy who knew he was hearing the president
he told me that when his grandfather was a boy
in the south people gathered on a hill somewhere
to hear abraham lincoln speak
the grandfather was blind since birth, and an old man
when he told jordan
how he heard lincoln's sharp voice, high-pitched, clear like a trumpet over the crowd
i can let those words set
and ring in your head
like lincoln's must have done
to that boy who knew he was hearing the president
Thursday, April 24, 2008
poetini
sure i keep it short
you have a life, right?
it's nice you take a look
but i'm not going to keep you
there - a couple of lines
you read it
fine, like that, okay, forget it
and we're both out'a here
you have a life, right?
it's nice you take a look
but i'm not going to keep you
there - a couple of lines
you read it
fine, like that, okay, forget it
and we're both out'a here
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
birthday
"eeeeeeeyeow" screached a low swooping gull
over trajan's market by the forum
crowds were downtown last night
roma is celebrating birthday number 2761
how about that? two thousand seven hundred sixty-one
an old cat was walking around the ruins looking harmless
but the seagull thought otherwise and kept squawking
the feline eventually got the hint and departed
we were street level above the ruins, looking down on them
the official roma birthday day day is 21 april
nothing happened then, it was just selected as the day
meanwhile festivities will go on until 9 may
that's like roma, no quick birthday
people are out there now, concerts are going on
and that tells you a lot about how this city operates
in brief, like everything,
they make it up for the occasion
and do whatever they want
over trajan's market by the forum
crowds were downtown last night
roma is celebrating birthday number 2761
how about that? two thousand seven hundred sixty-one
an old cat was walking around the ruins looking harmless
but the seagull thought otherwise and kept squawking
the feline eventually got the hint and departed
we were street level above the ruins, looking down on them
the official roma birthday day day is 21 april
nothing happened then, it was just selected as the day
meanwhile festivities will go on until 9 may
that's like roma, no quick birthday
people are out there now, concerts are going on
and that tells you a lot about how this city operates
in brief, like everything,
they make it up for the occasion
and do whatever they want
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
volume
the settings in roma
for speakers in airports
in buses, in buildings, outside
anywhere announcements are made
are: "on" or "off"
"on" means blasting to the fullest extent possible
nearly improbable
unbelievable, absurd
distortion is a synonym
"off" means broken
or someone forgot to turn it on
for speakers in airports
in buses, in buildings, outside
anywhere announcements are made
are: "on" or "off"
"on" means blasting to the fullest extent possible
nearly improbable
unbelievable, absurd
distortion is a synonym
"off" means broken
or someone forgot to turn it on
Monday, April 21, 2008
a non-fiction guy thing
it's true
could happen to you
i put mayonnaise in my suitcase
the next day she found it in my shoe
I admit i didn't check the lid
that's the worst i did
so what can a fellow do?
if not me, then who?
but nothing gooey came out
that's how the story ends
with promises to do better
we're still friends
(i think she's watchin' me)
could happen to you
i put mayonnaise in my suitcase
the next day she found it in my shoe
I admit i didn't check the lid
that's the worst i did
so what can a fellow do?
if not me, then who?
but nothing gooey came out
that's how the story ends
with promises to do better
we're still friends
(i think she's watchin' me)
taste
in the vatican museum i noticed the floor
and thought when target and others makes new tiles
why not do decent copies of beautiful tiles from history?
why produce new inferior designs?
sure, new sells, but you can sell anything
some old stuff is incredible
don't buy into fashion when it is base
why not remake old cars, old clothes
old everything that was beautiful and loved
using modern materials
let's cut the trash and clean the globe
with a bit of taste
and thought when target and others makes new tiles
why not do decent copies of beautiful tiles from history?
why produce new inferior designs?
sure, new sells, but you can sell anything
some old stuff is incredible
don't buy into fashion when it is base
why not remake old cars, old clothes
old everything that was beautiful and loved
using modern materials
let's cut the trash and clean the globe
with a bit of taste
Sunday, April 20, 2008
a second good idea
how about that smart car
and now that's done
let's move ahead far
bring on the stupid one
extra wide, extra long, gas guzzler
one tiny window, under-inflated tires
no mirrors, sluggish manual steering, no muffler
also runs on coal fires
and now that's done
let's move ahead far
bring on the stupid one
extra wide, extra long, gas guzzler
one tiny window, under-inflated tires
no mirrors, sluggish manual steering, no muffler
also runs on coal fires
music to my knees
it nearly brings me to my knees
would you play it as gently
again, if you please
you know, somehow
and this i don't mean lightly
that melody touches me
extemporaneously?
how did that come about?
it was not planned, merely stumbled upon?
what i hear in that
takes me up somehow
turns me 'round
i want it with me
to carry away, to take home
bring out when i'm alone
i need to listen again
to learn what it is saying to me
so i can respond properly
i want to respond
i know i can
it is talking to me
would you play it as gently
again, if you please
you know, somehow
and this i don't mean lightly
that melody touches me
extemporaneously?
how did that come about?
it was not planned, merely stumbled upon?
what i hear in that
takes me up somehow
turns me 'round
i want it with me
to carry away, to take home
bring out when i'm alone
i need to listen again
to learn what it is saying to me
so i can respond properly
i want to respond
i know i can
it is talking to me
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