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shirtless
Member

since 2006-04-29

Posts 359

0 posted 2008-02-27 11:38 AM

As I read Jaime Fradera's post of Death Edition 2008, I remembered the following poem that expresses some thoughts on death and my experiences as an English teacher.

EVENTS OF THE HEART

the first time,
I was standing
in front
of a grade ten class;
I was bouncing
Shakespeare
around the room
like a ball
of flubber
everybody
avoided
when my left arm
became as dis
continuous
as Caesar’s ghost,
like the atlas
markings
for an
in ter mit tent
stream.
and my head
was as empty
as an Easter
morning tomb.
I was afraid
of falling —
no,
afraid of being
helped to my feet.
I left the school,
walked slowly
for two hours,
let the energy
of the air
tunnel through
mired arteries
until I was
still here.

the second time
I was lying down
when my left arm
became O.J. Simpson
forcing a hand
into a glove
too small,
became
the subway train
when the tunnel
suddenly narrows
like the sink
becomes the drain.
I tried to speak
and mumbled
like Mike Tyson
with a mouthful
of ear.
I lay watching
for some hours
then got up
still here.

the third time
I neither watch
nor wait for,
but it’s there
like the radar trap
over the hill,
like the ice
on the stairs,
like the shoelace
that snaps;
but for now
I’m still here.

poetry podcasts, blogs and[ photopoems at URL= http://anthonyarmstrong.ca

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

1 posted 2008-02-27 12:33 PM

And it's so good you are still here, because you write so damn well!!
Watch your left arm though ... well you have the right one to write ... or do you?! See, dear English teacher, how I manage to distinguish right and write?

Here you are speaking of death and I play with you. Sorry, but it's better to take it easy!

love
Margherita

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

2 posted 2008-02-27 02:50 PM

Wonderful descriptive writing...James

TomMark
Member Elite

since 2007-07-27

Posts 2133
LA,CA

3 posted 2008-02-27 05:52 PM

nice poem!

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4 posted 2008-02-27 06:06 PM

Shirtless,

Very good writing. I like your Mike Tyson with his mouthful of ear.

Bobby

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

5 posted 2008-02-27 08:51 PM

Good writing, Shirtless. I liked Tyson's mouthful of ear also.
Ida

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant

since 2000-01-29

Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia

6 posted 2008-02-27 08:54 PM

you write with such passion for life Anthony... enjoyed love RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

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