April 3, 2021: The Bath by Jose-Maria de Heredia, "Adventures in World Lit.", page 766

 The Bath

As might a centaur, man and beast in one,
  Into the surf they plunge, naked and free;
  Powdered with golden mist, they seem to be
Athletes of bronze aglow beneath the sun.
The rustic rider and wild stallion
  Breathe in the briny odor thirstily,
  And as they meet the chill surge of the sea
Through flesh and mane delicious shivers run.
The wave swells, rushes, rises like a wall,
  Then breaks in foam.  The bathers shout and neigh
  And from the stallion's tail blue showers fly;
Mane streaming wild, he rears against the sky,
Then dark breasts cleave the billows as they fall
  Whipped into frothing cataracts of spray.

April 2, 2021: How to Relate

               How to Relate?

 

I say in poems

What’s on my mind,

But I can’t show them;

They’re not yet refined.

It’s got to congeal,

Or it just isn’t smart –

When I choose to reveal

What I hold in my heart.

 

I am confused!

I have nothing to show.

My life’s been diffused.

I don’t know where to go.

I haven’t begun!

I’m not very strong.

I’m not very fun,

But I tag along.

 

I’m afraid of the beaches;

Afraid of the bars;

The girls’ out of reach.

I don’t know about cars,

And the stereo’s music

Just drowns my guitar.

 

April 2, 2021: "Changing the Wheel" by Bertolt Brecht in "Teutonic Lit. in English Translation, page 55

 Changing the Wheel

I sit on the roadside bank.
The driver changes a wheel.
I do not like the place I have come from.
I do not like the place I am going to.
Why do I watch him changing the wheel
With Impatience?

April 1, 2021: "Poem" by Izzi Charik (In "A Treasury of Yiddish Poetry, page 191)

POEM

Who cares if eternity won't know me,
if no one ever watches my footsteps --
but now, right now, when hearts are burning,
I come with fists in my song. 

Of course, I'd like to sing myself away,
to cry out all my hurting with the wind --
but, though I would not find that hard, I cannot,
when life bears down too much on everyone.

The stars are not -- till now -- my enemies,
and I can keep my peace with all the winds,
but when I am ablaze I must not listen
to the air that, rustling, lingers over me.

Who cares if eternity won't know me,
if no one ever watches my footsteps --
but now, right now, when hearts are burning,
I must come with my song!

April 1, 2021: Reaching Out and Self-Reliance

                   Reaching Out and Self-Reliance

 

One step towards becoming worldly wise:

You don’t have to hunt for yourself,

But you can assume some order, and organize

In a file; with a hook; on a shelf.

 

When there’s no one around to lend you a hand,

You can imagine how you would construe it,

Just as long as you understand

That there isn’t just one way to do it!

 

For some, it’s too easy to fall into despair

At even the thought that they might have to think!

Too much frustration to be able to care

How ideas – or fittings – might link!

 

So a-mazing!

So what?

So engaging!

In a rut!

Wide-ranging

Pain in the butt!

No use complaining!

Just don’t bust a nut!

April 30, 2020: Selected Limericks

Selected Limericks

1.  Life isn’t going so well.

The reason is I cannot tell.

And I think it’s a shame

That my life is a game

Of finding my own place in hell.

2.  I once knew a fellow with wit

Whose every remark was a hit.

When asked how he ever

Attained to be clever,

He answered, “I haven’t learned shit.”

4.  An awkward I know is so shy

That I finally went and asked “Why?”

“I’m abandoned and torn

And I can’t even mourn

‘Cause I’ve learned that it’s useless to try.”

6.  Miss gregarious’ life’s swift and loud.

She’s admired ‘cause she’s tough and she’s proud.

But she’s playing a role.

Don’t ask for her soul.

She’ll just disappear in the crowd.

8.  Jack might’ve been strong, but he sure wasn’t bright.

He was heard to be shouting, “I’m right; I am right!”

Said a cop, “Excuse me,

But I disagree,” and

Jack answered, “Do you want to fight?”

10.  Reginald had a singular goal

To be in absolute control.

When he found the way,

He went on display,

And found it was only a role.

11. My words and actions in total congruity,

I will not tolerate ambiguity.

Unless I am sure,

I’ll accept no cure . . .

I’m so sick of missed opportunity!

14.  I called God up today on the phone,

Wishing to be understood and condoned,

But I wasted my dime.

She said, “I don’t have time:

Could you leave a short message at the sound of the tone?

15.  Reynold, the scholar, never got shook,

But would always methodically listen and look.

A tornado came by

And blew him sky high,

And he asked, “What’s become of my book?”

16.  Johnny meant to build a bed,

But wound up to make an extensive tool shed.

I said, “You’re clearly not lazy,

But surely, you’re crazy!”

He answered, “You hit the nail on the head!”

April 29, 2020: Mental Illness Reality Show

Mental Illness Reality Show

So now we welcome our special guest,

So full of wisdom and talents

We bring him before us, ‘cause his life is a mess.

Perhaps you can tell he’s a little depressed.

Can you see he’s a bit out of balance?

So let’s give our speaker a round of applause

While he’s telling us what’s gone wrong,

Reveals his failings, his fatal flaws,

How he misused and broke the laws

That it takes to get along.

Now watch our speaker as he mounts the stage.

Look at him shake his head!

Notice the smile that masks his rage!

He says, “I feel like I live in a cage,

And I wish that I was dead!”

He says, “Nothing I thought I’d learned in life

Ever came to practical use,

And now I must wallow through meaningless strife.

I can’t talk to anyone, and even my wife

Says I haven’t got any excuse!”

He takes his fist and he beats his brow,

And the audience begins to scream.

“I want to explain it but I don’t know how.

For a while I thought I was well endowed,

But I guess it was all in a dream.”

He starts to bang his fists on the floor

To wake himself up from his sleep.

He says, “I’m sorry to be such a bore!”

Mechanical chuckle.  The audience roars,

“We’re sorry you’re such a creep!”

So ladies and gentlemen, please remain

In your seats while the curtain comes down

On this freak of nature, so clearly insane,

Yet another showcase of human pain

That we’re gonna get out of your town!

We all have heartaches.  We all have fears

That our printers will go off line,

For we all are losing the things we hold dear,

But now, let us grin from ear to ear

And feel like we’re doing just fine!