As part of my current 2nd childhood project, I've been wrapped up in Guillaume Apollinaire. Much absorbed in his Villonesque, Verlaineish life & verses. Goes back to an early attraction, affection. Here's the first poem of mine published in RI, written as a freshman at Brown U., outside sitting on the sidewalk around the corner from the library where I work today...
FOR MARCH 28 NINETEEN 71
(after reading Apollinaire)
I made this notebook thoughtlessly
out of marks that separate me
from what my feet touch
though it bakes my eyes
each morning leaving a room
I find a lot of people without shoes
are whistling down the street
without caring about stars or dark bowls
a girl's hair beckons the evening on
in the warm air the first fly of spring
drones about my face looking for summer
short-legged people with winter hats
glance at the sun and bounce off the sidewalk
my back to a warm wall
I know how silence defeats love
leaning like an old man
against a warm day like this
*
Now that I AM (just about) an old man, around the corner from this poem (40 yrs ago)...
11.07.2012
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