“The Love for October” by W.S. Merwin

 A child looking at ruins grows younger

but cold
and wants to wake to a new name
I have been younger in October
than in all the months of spring
walnut and may leaves the color
of shoulders at the end of summer
a month that has been to the mountain
and become light there
the long grass lies pointing uphill
even in death for a reason
that none of us knows
and the wren laughs in the early shade now
come again shining glance in your good time
naked air late morning
my love is for lightness
of touch foot feather
the day is yet one more yellow leaf
and without turning I kiss the light
by an old well on the last of the month
gathering wild rose hips
in the sun

“October” by W.S. Merwin

 I remember how I would say, “I will gather

These pieces together,
Any minute now I will make
A knife out of a cloud.”
Even then the days
Went leaving their wounds behind them,
But, “Monument,” I kept saying to the grave,
“I am still your legend.”

There was another time
When our hands met and the clocks struck
And we lived on the point of a needle, like angels.

I have seen the spider’s triumph
In the palm of my hand. Above
My grave, that thoroughfare,
There are words now that can bring
My eyes to my feet, tamed.
Beyond the trees wearing names that are not their own
The paths are growing like smoke.

The promises have gone,
Gone, gone, and they were here just now.
There is the sky where they laid their fish.
Soon it will be evening.

 

The Point of the Needle

• 
• 
• 
• 

Dana Levin

Since you got to behead

each

              hollyhock crown

              with your round

              guillotine

              of a mouth―

I hope you get to spin inside your

               paper house.

              Emerge Noctuidae,

              owlet moth, 

              laying your eggs in leaves at night.

    

That you might finish your stitch―

Replicate yourself in time so you are

              always present―

              each egg a deposit―

              an echo-pearl of “you” along time’s string―

That my soul might be allowed

              to flourish―

Make a success

              of threading flesh, to participate 

              again in time, on 

              long arcs between sets of plunge, even though

                            it hurt―

                            to be born and die―

                            it loved to ride

                                          the point

                                          of the needle―

 

Emily Dickinson   Follow

A Clock stopped -

287

A Clock stopped - 
Not the Mantel's -
Geneva's farthest skill
Can't put the puppet bowing -
That just now dangled still -

An awe came on the Trinket!
The Figures hunched, with pain -
Then quivered out of Decimals -
Into Degreeless Noon -

It will not stir for Doctors -
This Pendulum of snow -
The Shopman importunes it -
While cool - concernless No -

Nods from the Gilded pointers -
Nods from Seconds slim -
Decades of Arrogance between
The Dial life -
And Him -

Another Time by Wystan Hugh Auden

 

Another Time - meaning Summary

Living in the Present

Auden’s poem argues that human life exists only in the present, contrasting immediate being with people who seek identity in history, flags, and ownership. Those who refuse the present cannot truly say "I am" and attempt to hide in old certainties. That refusal produces grief and loneliness. The poem ends by insisting time will have other lives, so clinging to past belonging offers no real solace.

 

Past Present & Future

Alero “The Mimz” Ogisi

Threat of loss of the benefit of the Black bodies  in bondage caused great fear The Confederacy didn’t care for Lincoln  The Civil War had been going on for over an entire year Lincoln then made a power move to get them to conform  He signed the Emancipation Proclamation it didn’t work though  the Confederacy pushed back with great determination After two years of battle full of frustration and ultimate humiliation  In April of 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered ending the Civil War But see Black people were not truly free until  Freedom had blessed each and every door One instance was marching into Galveston Texas on June 19th  The News was spread strong and loud The Abolitionist had succeeded a true moment to be proud  The 13th Amendment it plugged up  Some of those holes that the Emancipation missed Please I encouraged you to put both of them on your must-read list The rejoice began the rebuilding surging through our Black veins  Building our community securing our Black reigns We are qualified builders and planters sowing the seed of upliftment Something out of nothing we build our own equipment Depending on where you lived is when you celebrated being free We didn’t have cell phones or the internet  News took some time to reach every city  April of ’62 began the festivities in DC Tennessee gotta glimpse at the end in August of ’63 Ohio grasped a hold to freedom in 1862 in September While Kentucky didn’t see freedom until 1865 in December Many Variations of a well-deserved celebration called by many names  Freedom Day Jubilee Day Emancipation Day 2nd Independence Day Throughout the United States freedom was celebrated Striving for upliftment not to be underestimated America was taking a turn and now suffered a great depression Designed laws which supported systemic oppression Fueled by greed corruption racism and domination None of that was stopped by the Emancipation Housing and education and the onset of strong Jim Crow Laws were being passed to protect the status quo Civil Rights movement Kwanzaa Boycotts  And the Rebellion caused the celebrations to be reignited Celebrating Black people abolishing racist laws got me excited Experiencing horrible tragedies we still try to instill hope Through education and upliftment we will have growth You changed the world George Juneteenth is a National Holiday An accumulation and great anticipation as we  Come together to strive forward  As a unified Black nation Going forward what does that mean One more day to sleep in and take a long bath One more day that you can get time and a half One more day from work or school One more BBQ to go to I challenge you to look into the eyes  Of our beautiful Black children  And make them a promise You will strive for them to learn all that they can be a leader in the crowd You will support perseverance to keep pushing and to be proud You will do your very best for them so they can succeed You will encourage them to thrive and plant the seed

“October” by W.S. Merwin

 I remember how I would say, “I will gather

These pieces together,
Any minute now I will make
A knife out of a cloud.”
Even then the days
Went leaving their wounds behind them,
But, “Monument,” I kept saying to the grave,
“I am still your legend.”

There was another time
When our hands met and the clocks struck
And we lived on the point of a needle, like angels.

I have seen the spider’s triumph
In the palm of my hand. Above
My grave, that thoroughfare,
There are words now that can bring
My eyes to my feet, tamed.
Beyond the trees wearing names that are not their own
The paths are growing like smoke.

The promises have gone,
Gone, gone, and they were here just now.
There is the sky where they laid their fish.
Soon it will be evening

The mother

 

Blackbottom By Toi Derricotte

 Blackbottom

By Toi Derricotte

When relatives came from out of town,

we would drive down to Blackbottom,

drive slowly down the congested main streets

    —Beubian and Hastings—

trapped in the mesh of Saturday night.

Freshly escaped, black middle class,

we snickered, and were proud;

the louder the streets, the prouder.

We laughed at the bright clothes of a prostitute,

a man sitting on a curb with a bottle in his hand.

We smelled barbecue cooking in dented washtubs,

    and our mouths watered.

As much as we wanted it we couldn't take the chance.

Rhythm and blues came from the windows, the throaty voice of 

    a woman lost in the bass, in the drums, in the dirty down 

    and out, the grind.

“I love to see a funeral, when I know it ain't mine.”

We rolled our windows down so that the waves rolled over us

   like blood.

We hoped to pass invisibly, knowing on Monday we would

   return safely to our jobs, the post office and classroom.

We wanted our sufferings to be offered up as tender meat,

and our triumphs to be belted out in raucous song.

We had lost our voice in the suburbs, in Conant Gardens,

   where each brick house delineated a fence of silence;

we had lost the right to sing in the street and damn creation.

We returned to wash our hands of them,

to smell them

whose very existence

tore us down to the human.

Cross my heart and hope to die

 Here’s the complete poem. Enjoy!

Cross my heart
and hope to die
stick a needle in my eye
wait a moment,
i spoke a lie
i never really
wanted to die.
but if i may
and if i might
my heart is open
for tonight
though my lips are sealed
and a promise is true
i won't break my word
my word to you.

Cross my heart
hope to die
stick a needle in my eye.
a secret's a secret
my word is forever
i will tell no one
about your cruel endeavor.
you claim no pain
but i see right through
your words in
everything you do.
teary eyes
broken heart
life has torn
you apart

Cross my heart
hope to die
stick a needle in my eye
i loved you then
i love you now
i'll still love you
though i'll break my vow.
i can't hold this secret
any longer
it's hurting you
not making you stronger.
you're my friend
so i'll risk your respect
by hurting you
i can protect
i'll save yourself
since you will not
you might hate me
but i'll give it a shot.
i'm willing to risk
our bond that we own
so long as you're safe
you won't be alone.

Cross my heart
hope to die
stick a needle in my eye
break my promise
tell a lie
save my friend
though, maybe it's 'bye.'

Why are you being so mean?

 Why are you being so mean? Grow up! There is more to the universe than your measly little emotions! Grow up! Get over your feelings, over your sadness every time you don't get your own way! Grow up! The world does not revolve around what you want! Grow up! Get over your feelings. If it's "mean" to you for me to speak the truth, then the problem is with you!

Tattoo BY TED KOOSER

 

• Tattoo

  BY TED KOOSER