Long Malt Poems

Act 2. A dark, empty stage.

Marat
(standing up)

It's all a blur. It’s all a little dizzy. 
I just have dreamed a scary dream as if 
two vagabond philosophers robbed me
and killed. I must admit it's a...

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When We Were Young

He left for work each morning, 
Wearing steel-toed boots and a tin hat.
He took long strides that were three times 
The length of mine.
In one hand he carried a lunch pail and...

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One Sunday afternoon in spring,
i was tending my garden,
trimming and watering the roses,
when he first passed by.
I remember standing up to break the ache,
and as i ran my hand across the face,
to wipe off the...

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The Job

I got a plane to catch in the morning.  8:15 AM out of Austin, destination Orange County, CA.  Never cared much for California and I don’t think anything about this trip is...

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A field day shoe fit for Mother Goose
  
Fruitless effort squeezing figurative juice
Pandora called triggering 
helter skelter to get loose
necessitating Bullwinkle J. Moose
to usher at yours truly 
(an aspiring wordsmith) vamoose!

Hey diddle diddle the...

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We’re (my roommates and I) at a specific time of youth - a time I’ll call “close.” We aren’t fully adults but we’re close, we’re not completely out and independent, but we’re close. And once...

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Towards the Horizon

Sitting in a corner, absorbing the incandescent hue,
A malt for company, awaiting a magical cue,
I often wonder, all these years, where were you?
I reflect upon the days which could have been,
I reminiscent our...

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The face behind the harlequins gaze
hides the scars of yesterdays man.
Born in an Attercliffe slum
in the rags of fathers graft,
with a pencil for a voice
stolen from milk mans note. 
. 
A boy in possession of...

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I chose the reggae mix
Not because i have long hair
Not because i have read eyes
Not because I chew the cud 
Just because i love selector

I chose to listen 
Because of Selector 
He reigns in the...

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I am sitting in my light brown leather reclining chair
after a strenuous day at my office glad to be home
no more stress no wife just my dog Bandit at my side
I'm holding in my right...

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alone inside with me, less than inspirational

  so look out for the more interesting folk

  momentary excitement, the fiery motivational

  beyond the familiar, to stoke and provoke

  daydream departure from mundane...

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Five-and-Dime Store
                    by Odin Roark

Maybe I remember ‘cause…

Everyday was a holiday
At Woolworth’s Five-and-Dime store.
Colored things were...

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I am getting old now, I can only turn over
They can’t get me to run, but I not all done.
My valves are leaking, I often misfire
My fuel gauge will sputter my heart will flutter
I go...

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we were talking about the good ole days
and wondered how these people would remember us
we got on a conversation about food and
those special items we liked from our favorite
grandma's.
we came up with some new recipes...

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Yours truly borrows a phrase
courtesy the great bard
also known as
William Shakespeare's Hamlet:
"For 'tis the sport ...
Hoist by one's own petard
meaning "victimized or hurt 
by one's own scheme”.

The aforementioned excerpt
hopefully describes the fate
to befall president of...

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They are too foggy,
Dreams, visions, etc.;
 I don’t know, I don’t remember, 
but o’ wait! 
Yes, a distinct memory.

I started remembering words
hoarse, dry words mixed
with the lemonade air.
 a conversation? 
The smell of heated leather
chains...

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Banjo Bobs Barber Shop

Ill meet you there he’s open eight till late, right off hope street down dead end lane,
It can be quite a journey his reception worth your pain, no matter your passion, ignore...

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The Chosen One!

(1)“Be grateful dear friend that I don’t marry you!”
(2)For all beauty, man’s weakness, is really an act
Women master (in spades!) Turn it off, turn it on!
Each man born plays a part,
Drones raised crippled...

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I remember when I held my children for the first time

I remember when I spoke at my dad’s funeral ad libbing in a mix of joy and grief

I remember when Saturday was THE most important...

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The face behind the harlequins gaze
hides the scars of yesterdays man.
Born in an  Attercliffe slum
in the rags of fathers graft,
with a pencil for a voice
stolen from milk mans note.

A boy  in possession of...

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In the black and white days of the 1950’s schools made youngsters learn and learn well or else,
Uniforms were as important with short trousers and knee length grey socks with elastic garters,
Garters would get so...

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It don't hurt.
—Johnny Thunders, lead guitarist of The Dolls, last words

My ancestors are made of malt and barley,  
barely a drop of water left—  
Midas in jorts and Nikes,  
overplaying hands, turning...

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Unseen talon sharp claws...
dig deep into mine
psyche soft underbelly
piercing bedrock of
     core (puss) being
     akin to butter knife
slicing thru peanut
butter and jelly

unable to preserve
an iota of calm,
which...

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No it's not a gun,
a malt drink minus one
a waist size
or a world war II year
it's not the temperature
in early springs
not a Vick's cough syrup
it's none of these things

it's the number of volumes
of journals/diaries,
call them...

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Just a few lines I hereby write to let you know
that I, in my entirety am still alive,
care I give, when with pen perceiving you so slow
the words upon these lines, just in time will...

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