there are those moments
in life
when someone says
or does
something so astounding
either in brilliance or ignorance
that you go
what was that all about
and today
of all days
as I was out wandering
on these ancient streets
I had such a moment
and thought
they follow me
these people
halfway around the world
to keep me on my metaphoric toes
no sleepwalking here
for this long island kid
you can’t let your guard down
not for a moment
even if you think it’s safe
no sharks in sight
the water warm and inviting
uh huh
sure right
Norman Rockwell country
here in Turkey
but there is no safe harbor
no sign of relief
and no matter how hard you try
you just won’t get
what that was all about
life
life, again
when all else fails
there’s always life
coming along to surprise you
it could be some gesture
a spoken word, or two
perhaps the touch of a friend
or someone not so friendly
a flood in the neighborhood
power shortages
a voice from the heavens
or someplace farther south
or maybe someone seen
in a different light
you know, something you didn’t expect
good or bad or indifferent
but you’re stopped short
breath held
there on the precipice
whatever balance you thought you achieved
is now called into question
go or stay
throw all caution to the proverbial winds
this business called life
suddenly changes
and whatever rules applied before
no longer matter
it is a new day
or maybe evening
and all you have are what’s left of your wits
so saddle up, partner
whatever it is
it’s begun
from Later by Paul Blackburn
“. . . .You
put that much life in it, baby,
you know you can’t win.”
Song by Robert Creeley
What’s in the body you’ve forgotten
and that you’ve left alone
and that you don’t want–
or what’s in the body that you want
and would die for–
and think it’s all of it–
if life’s a form to be forgotten
once you’re gone and no regrets,
no one left in what you want–
That empty place is all there is,
and/if the face’s remembered,
or dog barks, cat’s to be fed.
from Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes
“you can’t walk away
without getting scarred.”
An Incidental Poem by Song Han-pil
Flowers opened in the rain yesterday
and fell in the wind this morning.
What a pity that spring
should come and go in rain and wind!
translated by Kim Jong-Gil
how it works
just remember
it works like this
if they don’t get you first
they get you second
Six O’Clock by Nazim Hikmet
Morning, six o’clock.
I opened the door of the day and stepped in–
a taste of young blue greeted me in the window,
the lines on my forehead remained in the mirror from yesterday,
and behind me a woman’s voice came softer than peach fuzz
and, on the radio, news from my country,
and now, my greed filling and overflowing,
I’ll run from tree to tree in the orchard of the hours,
and the sun will set, my love,
and I hope that beyond the night
the taste of a new blue will await me, I hope.
translated by Randy Blasing & Mutlu Konuk
Composed at Sunset at the Dunes of Ho-yen by Ts’en Shen
On the sands is seen the sun rising,
On the sands is seen the sun setting.
Regret for having come ten thousand li:
Achievement, fame, what things are these?
Heaven by Robert Creeley
If life were easy
and it all worked out,
what would this sadness
be about.
If it was happy
day after day,
what would happen
anyway.
Leonard Durso 