Christmas decorations, Richmond Annex: photo by efo, 24 December 2011
frosted tears are they, on the face of the neon
liquor store clown -- starlit Albany
inversion layered reddish blue two
forty eight a.m. Christmas on the Richmond/
Oaktown drag
thirty two degree separation
from earth above wide arcs of white light
from cruising police choppers
search the sky
Chain drugstore exterior, Albany: photo by efo, 23 December 2009
6 comments:
This poem reminds me of Brautigan's poem with the creature (werewolf) crying his neon tears as he looks at the Ferris wheel.
A Boat
By Richard Brautigan
O beautiful
was the werewolf
in his evil forest.
We took him
to the carnival
and he started
crying
when he saw
the Ferris wheel.
Electric
green and red tears
flowed down
his furry cheeks.
He looked
like a boat
out on the dark
water.
I can't help him--can't help this creature with the pain or with the beauty. Helpless looking.
hope you're having happy holidays tom : )
How did one ever manage to engage such a cool staff of elves, to help one counteract the multiple terrors of X=Mass?
Susan,
No one can help him. The carnival only makes things worse. The bright lights trick the tears into visibility. Out on the dark waters of the Bay, it might almost be possible to sink unnoticed.
(Difficult keeping afloat anyway, in that tub of industrial crud... but what you can't see can't hurt you until you smell & feel it... wept the bewildered werewolf to himself, just as the spot lights caught him from above, not waving but drowning.)
Valerie,
A lot happier since slinking over to the gala announcement site for your brave new beyond-gamefaced project line.
I believe I can already hear the dirty-faced angels chanting merrily in the hangar as they pick the ticks out of the pollution-matted reindeer fur, after that long arduous night flight.
The perfect day for announcing the release. Let this be the beginning of a new world. Like so many of your great poems, the cover image stops me in my tracks. Who wants to keep following those old tracks?
But really: I Think Louise Said It Best.
Tom,
Do you think I could quote you on your words about Brautigan's poem (werewolf interpretation) as I compose my intro to Virginia Brautigan Aste's bio. that I am shaping up for publication? Let me know? lonepoethelloyou@hotmail.com
Susan
Susan,
Yes, that's okay.
I'd like to see what comes of this.
Thanks, o.k., it will be a little while yet.
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