Once I saw mountains angry,
And ranged in battle-front.
Against them stood a little man;
Aye, he was no bigger than my finger.
I laughed, and spoke to one near me,
“Will he prevail?”
“Surely,” replied this other;
“His grandfathers beat them many times.”
Then did I see much virtue in grandfathers–
at least, for the little man
Who stood against mountains.
poem 2 by Stephen Crane
A man said to the universe:
“Sir I exist!”
“However,” replied the universe,
“The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation.”
poem by Stephen Crane
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting on the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, “Is it good, friend?”
“It is bitter–bitter,” he answered;
“But I like it
“Because it is bitter,
“And because it is my heart.”
Turn Heaven’s Face Toward Me by Enver Ercan
what you have found in me is that which I had so long sought
that fine point we reach entwining in embrace
come take me by the hand and lead me through those streets of yours
caught under a sudden downpour of mine
you come as twilight settles as it’s wont to do
god knows what the neighbors might say
you strip yourself of the day and wear only me
your fingers tame and relax the bright and glaring light
turn the face of heaven toward me
let the inflamed tongue of your passion wander
you know, the sound of your wings as you fly free
is like the summary of all the words you speak
may god bless and protect this night
translated by Suat Karantay
Poem 3 by Enver Ercan
I had unraveled
under the spell of a garden
with stars overlooking its pool
she was bending over the water
a swan appeared
did the swan resemble the poppy
or was the poppy the swan
the question did not even occur to me
in that childish afternoon
when words retreated into silence
time
was kissing everything it passed.
translated by Suat Karantay
Weekend Bathers by Kenneth Patchen
Sun on their naked shoulders
Like a sparkling hand;
Marge and her big-legged sweetie
Laughing to beat the band—
O glory in the Garden!
He finds her halter straps
And such pretties are exposed;
Yet, Wonder—now what is that?
Perhaps the water knows.
Thunder rides with the gnat.
Ah, each day a weaker bridge is crossed,
And nearer rush the wings;
Too soon all youthful swagger’s lost
In the dark hurry of things.
in the darkness: for Jason
when the phone calls
stop
and you’re alone
in the darkness
what voices
do you hear
what faces
float by
in memory
to comfort
to haunt
then
even three fingers of whiskey
there were days
when the sun shone
brightly & true
before night fell
& they faded
into fragments
of faulty memory
of faces
you would rather forget
even three fingers
of whiskey
can’t erase
all the debris left
of your love
Since the Tiny Yellow Rose by Kenneth Patchen
Since the tiny yellow rose
In the vase beside the candles
And the single drop of water
Upon this leafs uppermost tip
—Proof of mystery? or just
Two meaningless occurrences from
A meaningless physical world?
And your lovely fingers lifting a cup,
Or smoothing a crease in the table cloth
—To me so beautiful that my heart cries
With joy and pride at their nearness
What There Is by Kenneth Patchen
In this my green world
Flowers birds are hands
They hold me
I am loved all day
All this pleases me
I am amused
I have to laugh from crying
Trees mountains are arms
I am loved all day
Children grass are tears
I cry
I am loved all day
Everything
Pompous makes me laugh
I am amused often enough
In this
My beautiful green world
O there’s love all day
Leonard Durso 