The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Thu 6/22/06)

Emptying Town

I want to erase your footprints
from my walls. Each pillow
is thick with your reasons. Omens

fill the sidewalk below my window: a woman
in a party hat, clinging
to a tin-foil balloon. Shadows

creep slowly across the tar, someone yells, "Stop!"
and I close my eyes. I can't watch

as this town slowly empties, leaving me
strung between bon-voyages, like so many clothes
on a line, the white handkerchief

stuck in my throat. You know the way Jesus

rips open his shirt
to show us his heart, all flaming and thorny,
the way he points to it. I'm afraid

the way I'll miss you will be this obvious.

I have a friend who everyone warns me
is dangerous, he hides
bloody images of Jesus
around my house, for me to find

when I come home; Jesus
behind the cupboard door, Jesus tucked

into the mirror. He wants to save me
but we disagree from what. My version of hell
is someone ripping open his shirt

and saying, Look what I did for you. . .

Nick Flynn

********************

RL

If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...

if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul

:hi:

You know the way Jesus

rips open his shirt
to show us his heart, all flaming and thorny,
the way he points to it. I'm afraid

the way I'll miss you will be this obvious.

:hi:

RL

:hug:

:hug:

RL

Your Daily Poem, Aristus' Shakespeare quote and pictures, and now LeftyMom's WTVF/Cooking.

Stopped at Barnes & Noble yesterday for book of e e cummings poetry since no one remembers this for me at Christmas. My purchase was redirected to 'Poets Against the War', edited by Sam Hamill. Have you heard of it? The book is dedicated to Laura Bush. Seems Mr. Hamill was invited by her to a WH symposium on poetry. He asked fellow poet-friends to send poems speaking "for the conscience of our country in opposition to GW's plans" for the initial attack on Bagdad and ended up receiving 11,000 submissions. The website shows a prize offer, so definite incentive, but the symposium was canceled.
See: www.poetsagainstthewar.com

My thanks, hugs and hope that the rest of your day goes better.

Another lovely and sad poem.....

I always appreciate your contributions so much.....

Thank you.....


I too hope your day improves, my dear. :hug: