Patience in Black and White

My Books are on Amazon. Link below. I have a YouTube channel where I read from my books. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4sfxAFCf-I

I remember waiting,

finding an ad in a magazine

calling for poets of all styles,

and me, young and ignorant,

sifting through notebooks

to find a clean white sheet.

Sitting at the table,

writing the poem in my best handwriting,

shaking, needing a drink.

Then finding the stamp and envelope,

sealing the poem,

but not before rereading it

several times.

Walking to the post office

in autumnal rainy orange days,

or in December, surrounded by white,

waiting for the snail mail response.

Pensive, someone from New York City

wrote in red ink on my poem.

And then, for just $45,

we’ll put your poem in a book

and send it to you.

The money order, another stamp,

walking to the post office again,

waiting, waiting,

for a thick vanity press book

with my poem in tiny print

on page 756,

shallow fame.

Funny now, looking back on it.

That was such a long time ago.

I’m grayer now,

a little wiser.

Now it’s instant�"clicks, submissions online,

tier one, tier two journals and magazines,

analytics, numbers,

feedback faster

than the mailman ever dreamed.

Ten, fifteen poems a week,

published worldwide,

seven books of my own.

I used to write one poem every six months

if I had some semblance of joy in my life.

Now I write regardless of mood.

Inspiration everywhere.

I see it in my three cats’ eyes.

Green, gold, killers.

Centuries of instinct.

I try to write with the same tenacity.

Organization got better.

No more chasing scraps of thought,

no more misplacing notebooks.

Headaches replaced

with clarity.

I’m blessed.

I think of my dad,

leaning back in that California living room.

He loved his damn movies�"

On the Waterfront,

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,

A Streetcar Named Desire.

Black-and-white flickering shadows

dancing across the screen.

I hated those old movies,

the slow, gray, the dialogue,

actors long dead,

plots I didn’t understand.

Now, nearly sixty,

I see everything he loved.

The patience, the tension,

the subtle moves, the dialogue

of antagonists and protagonists,

the craft of plotting,

the rise and fall,

the themes, the poetic devices

woven into every line.

He taught me to see it all,

to understand the architecture of a story,

to know the weight of a single word,

to fully grasp

that furrowed brow,

that wry smile.

Poetry feels like that too,

like those movies,

painting the scenes with words,

hoping the reader smells the broken heart,

tastes the joy like candy.

It doesn’t arrive instantly.

It’s earned through patience and waiting,

in the hunt for misplaced notebooks,

or thankfully,

for the computer screen

to buzz to life.

I sip coffee,

smile at the shadows the cats chase,

think of black-and-white frames,

Brando, Bogart, fathers, patience,

words etched in history,

and how much life it takes

to live, learn,

and finally see.

Author's Note

I recently posted a new long-form poetry reading featuring a sneak peek from my upcoming book, Searching for Nod.

Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4sfxAFCf-I

📖 You can also find all my books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX

— Thomas W. Case

Reviews

[Rosie C]

This is a deeply reflective piece.

I feel taken on an emotional journey of ups and downs. I’m embracing it as I’m travelling through each line.

I was drawn to this by its title. It totally captured me and I was absorbed before I knew it myself.

Adventurous in its own way. It makes me feel grounded.

A comforting, homely and reassuring read.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, Rosie.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Love this how you mention your dad and his movies too I loved those ones and lots more old ones as well
You described how you sent poem off in the mail and the excitement of getting it published on a printed page
Fabulous poem !

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much.

[Neville]

very moving & for lots of reasons .. the parallels are striking .. write on brother T because you do it so well .. N

[Thomas W Case]

Thanks. You too, my friend.

[John the Baptist]

Very interesting to read of your poetic odyssey. Many would have faded halfway through, but you hung in there and showed the value of tenacity. You also showed how time can change things. Your story has much to teach all. Keep at it.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, John. I appreciate you.

[red93]

'Have patience, for in patience lies the root of all successful enterprise.' Lao-Tzu, 6th Century BC. Really going thru the gears now Thomas. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.

[Soren]

A story unfolds in this poem of young ignorance to wisdom with age. So nicely written Thomas it highlights the virtue of patience when coupled with the sweat of work. Nicely done

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[Soren]

Most welcome