Ugly Cat Speaks

Monday, March 27, 2006

Jester's Westfield Community Voices 3/27/06

Here are some poems I read tonight and some I wrote tonight. I was particularly inspired at tonight's reading.

Ode to a Bee that Was

To be a bee or not a bee
that was the unfortunate question.
Whether 'tis nobler to suffer the stings and swellings
of a day's misfortune
Or in a rush of adrenaline and heavy step
end the threat. To step, to kill --
and by a step to say we end
the ache and several natural stings
that flesh is heir to. 'Tis certainly
to be wish'd. To slap, to smack;
To step, perchance to kill. Ay, there's the sting;
For in that step of death what pains would come
to our bare foot -- must give us pause.
Who would bandage bear?
Thus the yellow hue of this threat
does make cowards of us all;
And thus intentions to swat the torment --
with this regard, our faces turn away
And lose the name of action.

ltv


[untitled]

poets write
about the sound
of snowflakes
hitting and clinging
to one another
until finally
reaching the ground

poets write
about the color
of laughter
and the taste
of pain
which to some
is like chicken
but not as rubbery

ltv


Here are two I wrote (shamelessly) during other people's readings. (Hey I can multi-task. I can listen and write at the same time.)


Cleopatra Jones

Loneliness doesn't exist
if she's never alone
she jumps
from man to man
using a safety
of fishnets
and birth control
because even though
she cannot face herself
without the constant din
of masculine groans
she knows
it would be worse
trying to hide herself
from someone
who needed her
as much as she
needed them.

ltv



Fireman Poet

He read a poem
about 9/11
the only date
that mattered
for those in his profession
he didn't sugar coat
the bodies that were
already covered in ash
he spoke about the noises
of bodies failing to fly
his voice belied
the strength of character
needed to pull fragments
of his brothers
from the rubble
and piece together
a fitting memorial

ltv

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

New Stuff

Just a random selection of writings from the past week.

Before MySpace

bark roughened hands
grab another branch
digging my Keds
into a crook in the trunk
I launch myself
upwards
towards Heaven
where no one is
I sit with the birds
and signal to aliens
I hide poems like this
behind loose bricks
in the chimney

ltv


Basement Reading

a sliver of poetry
cuts through
the darkened library
the basement is buzzing
with fluorescent words
poets will go anywhere
to get their fix
sit on concrete
squirm on folding chairs
wait for hours
just to speak their piece
to those who appreciate

throughout the week
we live
with poetry closeted
business doesn't rhyme
with much

we celebrate
our other selves
amidst the shelves
of ancient books
not afraid
of the looks we might solicit
since poets are
a forgiving people

ltv


yet another Cat Haiku

Kestra understands
that puking on rugs is bad
she just doesn't care


Here's one more I finished tonight.

Joe's

a study in contradictions
where to begin
Italian-Mexican
a little bit of Tijuana
in our fine
arts town
peeling murals
held up by smoky,
greasy cobwebs
the food so good
you'd swear
your Italian mother
was in the kitchen
thin crusty cheesy
dripping goodness
and the tomatoes! --
oh my Spirit --
the salads
transcended
their humble beginnings
creating an explosion
of sweet freshness
in the mouth
rivaled only by
the sweet freshness
of the waitresses

ltv

Monday, March 13, 2006

Jester's Westfield Community Voices

Well, another Monday night was well spent at Jester's in Westfield reading and listening to poetry. I can't believe I hadn't read "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, Feelings" there before. It went over well; and I always enjoy reading it. Sadly, it does not translate well to the page, so until I can figure out how to a) get a decent recording of me reading it and b) figure out how to include that here; I will leave it to your imagination. Here are some other poems I read:


How I Killed Myself

first
let me explain
about Myself
and why killing
was the best option

imagine
a life not lead
and lead extraordinarily
often at the same time
every day a struggle
with meaning
with banality
Hope was a lottery ticket

agony lasting
so long
it was comfortable
-- only passion --
can overcome comfort
and in a fit
of passion
I killed Myself

it was uncomfortable
at first
having Confidence
quelling the negativity
dwelling on the positive
Control --
without the fear

whether it was a trick
of words or drugs
or a passionate
rebirth is irrelevant


Here's one that I wrote just before I went on to read:

Getting into the Groove

words tumble
like gumballs
across the linoleum
tripping me up
in my attempt to speak

wanting a tinnitus
of language
a tintinnabulation
of syllables

sadly, the din
of myself
seeking solace
in others
shuns the inner
singing voice


And this one's an oldie but a goody:

Eleemosynary Fix *

Why does sadness visit me
when I feel I should be fine
It's a sense of being tipsy
when I haven't tasted wine

Melancholy haunts me
-- a ghostly paramour --
an uncertain hesitation
of what's behind the other door

The Lady or The Tiger
always on my mind
fluctuations of emotion
a fruit without a rind

Unprotected heart and soul
fears that cannot settle
like the whistle when the water boils
but you can't locate the kettle

Doubts appear --unchecked
bringing completion to this mix
Unless, I give myself away --
an eleemosynary fix


***
Let me know what you think. What works and what doesn't. (Or just tell me how awesome I am, I'll accept that too.)

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Florence Poets Society

The Florence Poets Society met tonight. Wow, that sounds almost like it should be followed by “under the cloak of darkness”. It was a small crowd of regulars (which means we get to read more of our poems)! I read some old ones (St. Andrews was a hit again) but mostly read some new stuff. Here’s a taste:


Distant Memory

I thought of you
only once today
once more
than I wanted to
and I suppose
this counts as two
having reflected
or is it three
since I stop –
to phrase it just right--
and think of you again.

ltv



AFTER

I squandered
my fairy tale
so much so
that my happily ever
lasted a few short years

perfectly matched
my Prince Charming and I
wildly gave away
the happiness we shared
until there was none left

ltv



And here's the start of a poem…

Are you hungry
for me
for all of me
will I satisfy
your desire
will you spit out
the bitter parts
the parts that were unexpected
do you have a taste
for me
for all of me
not just
when I am sweet
or hungry for you

ltv


(I’m tempted to title it “Midnight Snack” but I think that’s too trite.)

Saturday, March 04, 2006

20 Years of Poetry

For those of you who have seen me at a reading or a poetry slam or even just at the monthly Florence Poets Society Meetings, you probably noticed my big purple binder of poetry. Well, last weekend I retired that collection. Twenty or so years of poetry, 333 poems, and one chapbook later, I am starting fresh. Before I completely yield to the momentum of time, here are some poems from the retired book which just might make it into the next book of poems I compile.

Emotis Insensitus #333

I collect emotions
I capture them with words
I revel in the loud ones
I speak for those unheard

I make them safe with language
or harmless with a rhyme
I label them precisely -
display them over time

I understand what makes them tick
I sense when they are near
I sink into a camouflage
the moment they appear

but when I finally take them
the feeling is divine
to possess what someone feels
and basely call it mine


"Hey. Look at Me"

poems should threaten
personal boundaries
at cocktail parties
poems should use language
a little louder than everyone else
poems should be pierced
in weird places
and not be afraid
to talk about god to strangers
poems should wear colors that clash
or jewelry that catches
every sparkle of the sun

poems should tear
flesh during intimate moments
poems should pick
scabs until blood
cleanses the wounds again
poems should be rotted
through with maggots
or laced with various white powders
poems should be ribbed
for your pleasure


On the Death of a Homeless Man

"Where is God?"
the old man said
pulling Salvation blankets
over his head

the Temperature fell
on the huddled mass
unnoticed by those
who warily passed
through the park

Darkness took
his troubled mind
an empty soul
in a mortal rind

when the Spirit whispered,
"I am here"
there was no man
there was no fear
just a statistic
who disappeared


ltv

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

My Obsession with My Cats

Since I have dedicated this page to my poetry (and photography), I suppose I have to write on a regular basis. And since I am completely obssessed with my cats, here's a couple of old Cat Haiku and a new 4 Haiku Poem.

kitchen door opens
cold breeze and grass awaits me
bolt past Momma's feet

Savory Supper
Meow Mix left in the dish
ants to an aardvark


Fighting Cats

muffled skirmishes
just outside the room I'm in
fur in both their mouths

startled nemesis
paw pushed into sister's face
what? we were playing!

a truce is garnered
they both stare distrustfully
neither dares to move

disgusted, one leaves
this tussle is beneath me
of course, I still win


ltv


These are three of my cats: (from the top) Sappho, Kestra and Mackenzie. Sadly, my fourth cat Willow boycotts the bed when the other cats are present.  Posted by Picasa