Two Poems
Timely poesy for unpoetic times.
Love Tune
By the city’s gate heads were stuck on pikes,
Enemies of the state and thieves were strung,
Hands removed, creaking, while below white mice
Traversed the graceful bridge from which they hung.
Eventually spectators wander home
Or elsewhere, lost: all TVs get switched off.
One says, “I forgot that up is above”
— , and then he forgets that he forgot.
Every failure was a mistake, not one
Of them was chosen; hearts and hearts will break
And break, and what is done, is done, is done;
— — , and what will take, will take, will take.
“Nothing,” said. “I don’t know nothing, I don’t
— — — .” Won’t, you won’t, you won’t, you won’t.
I Confess
Richard, let me never be you.
Richard, I confess that I haven’t read
Your book. Your only, only book.
Richard, I have already lived
Your life. Richard, I have already lived
Past your grinning time.
Let me never be young
And famous and dead. Let me never
Be young or famous.
Let me never be dead.
I cannot, I will not ride passenger
On the motorcycle. No,
I will not hold my breath,
I will not be mourned by celebrated
Friends, I will not invite
Young girls to parties
With their smooth, translucent legs.
Richard, Richard: no.
I will never, I will
Never, I will never be dead.
Paul Sheprow’s poems have appeared recently in Bear Deluxe and PageBoy. He is based in Milwaukie, Oregon.
