Not Entirely About Living In New York

I’m sorry for my flaws
I appreciate everything you do for me
I wish I could always smile at passing children
I wish I felt better about myself
I wish I saw the light you provide for me
The light I voluntarily turn my back from
The light I’m suppose to drink 
As if to keep hydrated.

I’m surrounded by quarters and unfinished books
I read because I’m searching for affirmation
Quarters for clothes to be kept clean.

I’m divulgent
I parade my flaws
I hide, trip, and reveal my flaws
I am in constant concern of my own being
And a stillness of thought for a mind to be kept clean.

The world is a messy place
Our mind the raking of leaves
The leaves of the world fall and we rake
The leaves of the world fall and we rake
We fall and awake and fall again.

Love is warm, harmless, and stamped
Inefficiently weak by the assemblies of faces
Swept up by the world’s business of cold linear time
Moving like a sad and brutal train.

I sit at the station
My fingers interlocked pressing against my face
Peering through the thicket of my spirit.

Hours later, maybe, I am looking up the hill
Pulling my elephant.
Children circle around my small progress
Skipping and laughing.

(They don’t care,
They just like elephants.)

Though, last night, I dreamt I rode a killer whale
And so here it dawns on the weakened spirit:

That I am the Whale Rider of the Phantom World
Wandering through 10th Avenue
My flaws in our wake
My fist pumped high in the air
In the name of a Life Authentic.

This all dreamy and wonderful
While in the world of machines and mass movement
The elephant keeps his slow, tugging gait behind me,
Ignorant of dreams.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2009



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Date: 1/18/2016 6:35:00 PM
Like it's written from the inside out... Nice!
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Date: 1/17/2016 7:29:00 PM
Hi Matt: I love your style of poetry and expression. My compliments!
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Date: 1/10/2016 9:21:00 AM
Multifaceted as a gem. Full of packed thought-molecules.
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Date: 1/1/2016 8:51:00 PM
I love your analogies. Your craftiness weaving words with wisdom and emotion through your voyage. New York is a cold and collective cascade of many personalities. Well done.
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Date: 1/1/2016 8:16:00 PM
Not entirely about living in New York, when l read this poem, I felt much more than something that I could not tell you what was it now. The poem is really fantastic; I'm sure. The thoughts and images it has aroused in me are true genius. I will read and reread it again and again. Cheers
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Date: 1/1/2016 1:45:00 PM
I concur with Lee Brownlee [I think] Inside is a turmoil but you keep grasping forward to make a reason for moving forward. I like this write. Elephants never forget , because they can dream of yesteryear and probably better times past. Not sure now. is that dreaming or ruminating? God Bless. D.
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Date: 12/31/2015 3:35:00 PM
Matt, I have enjoyed reading your poetry very much. I feel a little bit of you attached to each piece after you have written it. Your imagination is conclusive, in that you seem to release a bit of your self-doubt and self-view with each line. Yet you keep searching for more to evolve from your writing. Thank you very much.
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Date: 12/31/2015 2:49:00 PM
Wonderful Poem.
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Date: 2/23/2011 12:36:00 PM
Congratulations on your win in Debbie Guzzi's contest "Free Verse Seriously". A well deserved win Matt. Love, Carol
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Date: 2/15/2011 6:29:00 PM
A great descriptive poem about living in New York. Congratulations on winning in Deb's contest with this entry.
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Date: 2/14/2011 4:26:00 PM
Congratulations on your grand 3rd Place Win in the contest, Matt. Always, Annalise
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Date: 2/12/2011 2:21:00 PM
Hi Matt - Congratulations on your BIG WIN in Debbie's contest! Best wishes, Kory
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Date: 2/12/2011 2:53:00 AM
CLAP, CLAP.. this poem captivates the reader!... best cheers for stunning win! :) huggs, nette
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Date: 2/11/2011 9:35:00 PM
Again, very deep stuff, which reads magnificently. I dub you the voice for New York! A big congratulations on a very well deserved win. LUv, Andrea
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Date: 2/11/2011 8:27:00 PM
Awesome write Matt. Many congratulations for this success.
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Date: 2/11/2011 5:13:00 PM
Congrats Matt on your big win in Debbie's contest with this amazing entry luv.. enjoy a top spot for a top notch poem..
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Date: 2/8/2011 3:04:00 PM
Please enter this in my free verse contest! Light & Love
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Date: 4/7/2009 1:07:00 AM
The is poem is (also) about dreams...if it runs long than the dream must as well...eh?
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Date: 1/22/2009 6:13:00 PM
Wowser!!!! Fantastic, just a question "They leaves of the world fall and we rake" did you mean The leaves? or They, the leaves of the world, fall? It was long but it was worth being long!!!
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