that’s right
all of it
every word
and also add
what I didn’t
say
too
other writing
dreams of night
daylight
comes too quickly
the dreams of night
end
too soon
Chinese food: in conversation with Fang
eyes that speak
of 3000 years
of poetry
of song
the body erect
those slender shoulders
the eyes the mouth
hinting at a smile
there are many
questions to ask
but one talks
of food
chicken feet moon cake
and mouse
am I
dear Fang
supposed to eat
that
is it some kind
of test
to prove
how simpatico
I really am
does it
really truly taste
like chicken
or is that too
a myth
like Marco Polo
and spaghetti
and am I just
another Italian cowboy
lost
in those eyes
in the East
on forgiveness
you say
I could never
forgive that
and I wonder
why
if the inability
to forgive
is not somehow
connected to
our pride
isn’t love
lover friend family
at least
selfless
not selfish
and though that
is not an easy thing
to be
to do
whoever said
loving
was easy
shoes
there it is
all unpacked
put away
organized
at last
but where oh where
are 10 pairs of shoes
are they still walking
on their way
to Izmir
but whose feet
are they on
blindsided: for Chuck
there it is
undetected
coming out of
left field
just when you
were looking right
it’s that car
from nowhere
knocking you into
a ditch
over a guardrail
into the bottom
of a canyon
you didn’t expect it
were not ready
your judgment on holiday
but in she came
on those long legs
wearing that smile
to some private joke
sunshine framing her
like in the movies
blindsided
my friend
your heart
on perspective
there are things
you learn
by looking at them
from different angles
a matter of
perspective
sometimes
the culture of a place
influenes that
the people surrounding you
since the people
in the place
define the culture
or are defined
by it
and you
the one passing through
get to see
their world view
which in turn
influences your own
and here I stand
in a place
much different
from where I came
and see the whole
more clearly
rather than segments
as before
it’s all about
experience
or lack of it
yours theirs
and the world
at large
suddenly seems
even larger
than before
on precipices
sometimes
too many choices
are worse
than none at all
indecision
sets in
clouding the brain
which never deals well
with clouds
and one stands
on precipices
looking everywhere
but down
which is ultimately
where one goes
when stepping off
into the unknown
In Aliağa
I sit
no longer a stranger
on the shore
local merchants
now call me
by name
the taxi driver knows
where I live
a world within
a larger world
at home now
in Aliağa
in the north
of Izmir
it may not be
where I’m from
but it could be
where I belong
solutions
the cat
likes to sleep
on my injured arm
preventing it
from healing
solution one
shut the door
and ignore
the scratching
and crying
solution two
shoot the cat
I dislike closed doors
and don’t own a gun
solution three
open to suggestions
Leonard Durso 