Three November Poems

Show-shine Boy

I’m warm
Safe
Surrounded by books
Under my heart beat
Resides a phantom
—an old drunk
On the long walk
From 12 to 58
I never forgot
The Shoe-shine Boy
In me!!
I never ran out of polish—;
When I looked into my shine,
As now, I do, into my poems
Saying: “What’s next?”
Unhurried, unfurled
I ended up here—
Here, writing this poem
It cleverly fits
Into my life, so nice
I drink my latte
Here at the B.N., Café—
(a stir-stick, in hand)
Somehow I feel, really feel:
This is just the beginning—

#934 11-22-05

Fear’s Intentions

Fear, O fear, go to sleep Undiscovered—so you creep

Repulsive, at its very least! You shall not mould me in my Sleep!...

And when he has gone, far away Awkward things, seem to stay

Like plastic clay, I seem to be Waiting for fear, to return to Me!...

#932 11-22-05

The Balconies of Lima, Peru

—how swift: I step from one to one!

A moment out of the day

The winds upon my brow

A breath taken away; away by The balconies of Lima, Peru

(Most beautiful in the world!) Here is where, within the shadows

Of the Plaza de Arms

Is where kings and conquerors

Once ruled…

—here! …here the air is still,

Warm as the orchards in spring Warm as the Sacred Valley’s afternoon.

Here is where the balconies sing…! With a ghostly fragrance in the air,

Here along the streets of Lima, Peru— Here, here is where they sing, sing

Of the long lost folklores, Of long ago…

Note: I have traveled the world over, in Spain, Lisbon, New Orleans, etc., and I’ve yet to find any balconies equal to Lima’s; even in Italy, and 59-other countries. #929 11-19-2005