when the river runs backwards/

Centuries from now portraits will emerge

of middle school children posing with their

chins on  their forearms

and long after heroin and homelessness

have ravaged their bodies

and flowers beautifully arranged

in the funeral home parlor, someone

will scratch on the gray-paint, back

of the folding chair how they were,

in this moment of another's demise,

in love. "Johnny Loves Linda".

Curtis loves how Larry's hand gets

sticky from the sap of cut lilies,

starving for earth. (Earth being slang

for the niceties of restored existence).

Whatever I failed miserably to do,

the mice did with corn silk and insulation, much

like the hairs of an a*****e:

some are straight.

Some crooked. Others just lay down

pointing towards the stinky river.

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

The notion of the chairs in funeral parlors (and aren't they arragned like a classroom--you'd think there'd be assigned seating) acting as proxies for their middle-school counterparts...well, there's just no one else who's writing that. The mysteries of life and death, mice making their nests and "the hairs of an a*****e." It shouldn't be magical, but it sure as hell is.

[G. Cedillo]

This is a great poem. The third stanza is clumsily punctuated and would go a long way to helping with the drama, the first verse being near perfect and the second stanza going for broke:

"in the funeral home parlor someone,
on the gray-paint back, will scratch
on a folding chair how they were"

maybe something like that... you earned the ending, and how! Great read, thanks for this!

[writing mojo]

draws from additive conclusion as I am reminded of what
conscious stream Rimbaud led into a dream
being cleansed with star light and never a chandelier
just in the dark with doll able clothing
smirk tearing at what seems to be
fitting structurally to the
night steeping outside prefigured
to settle within murky breath
and a stain of excrement
...excellent piece

[h d e rushin]

thank you my friend.

[Saddam]

Nicely write down.
Every detail is clear.
Like it. Very nice one.

[h d e rushin]

thank you Saddam my friend for those kind remarks.......dana

[Saddam]

Most welcome friend. I like your write, that's are fun.

[wordman]

well dana you painted a vivid picture here,great poem

[h d e rushin]

thank you wordman for stopping by my friend....And yes, I am a fan of yours .......dana

[wordman]

that means we are going steady then

[leow]

o like am glued to this particular peom...theres is always ART in ur words.

[h d e rushin]

thank you my friend for those kind words......dana

[Rita L. Sev]

Each stanza gives an image that had me nodding - your poem is a "yes" in the midst of the "no's" we find inside ourselves.

[h d e rushin]

thank you so much rita.......dana

[Beccy]

In odd moments of contemplation and lucidity, (mostly over a glass of red in the late evening,) I often wonder what purpose our creator imagined the gift of self analysis would serve us. For sure, the waters are muddied, though mostly I suspect in our own minds, but from the second we blink open our eyes, to the moment of our departure, we must traverse the crooked road as best we can.

As for success or failure, by what yardstick can one measure such? For some it will be the garnering of two billion dollars as opposed to a measly one billion, for other it will be the difference between a full or an empty belly.

A fascinating poem that puts me in mind of that famous passage from the Rubaiyat.

Beccy.

[h d e rushin]

what remarkable insight my friend......dana

[emmajoy]

Life through the annals of... too much, maybe But you're so right, life and its characters maul their way though time as if they can erase their shortcomings. They appear so unique, so innocent but are twisted and turned into being what you portray, Once upon a time that river, flowing or metaphorical was crystal clear.. what the heck happened to it.. Throw humanity a few make.over lifebelts someone.

As ever, dana, you juggle thoughts a'many and have them talk to the reader.. inspire some strange pics now and again (not quoting that one about the hairs!) ... but also, make for further consideration.. never a bad thing.. never!

[Lydia Shutter]

A bit dark, Dana. It's true we will all be gone one day and we will be the undertakers' next big score...but it is also true that while "Johnny loves Linda" in the here and now, things can be wonderful. I believe you have not failed....your poetry proves it. You are an accomplished writer. Don't think I have ever read a poem that mentioned "hairs of an a*****e" before. Your poetry is certainly unique! Lydi**

[h d e rushin]

thank you Lydia for stopping by to visit me again..It's always good to hear from you...dana