Tanner’s Demise

Thief of Kisses
He was a fiend of hearts, was Jon Tanner;
seducer of women by wine and by song.
But one day a maiden too fair did Tanner
meet and kisses steal and away into the night
stole as though no promise lied through
puckered lips might hold him to a single
heart. But Duke Marinton’s daughter
had no will [...]

Kill the Critic

Killing the Inner Critic
You can’t do that!
          I hear far back in my head.
Poetry is serious stuff!
          It is my voice, when I’m dry.
You must be deliberate!
          Best ignored.
Where’s your rhyme scheme?
          Can’t speak—only scream.
No wonder nobody’ll publish you!
          Narrow and hostile, too.
Poetry doesn’t work like that!
          Protective of something sacred.
Don’t you have [...]

Temptation

Temptation
I never knew Eve. Never spent time in her
garden or orchard. Any Eden, for that matter.
But I loved her from the time of my first
erection, first hint of manhood. My heroine
not because she gave the fruit to Adam,
not because she was the Matriarch of Rebellion,
nor because she blamed the serpent—
Because she opened the true gate
to [...]

Sisyphus Eating an Elephant . . .

More than I Can Chew
Ever my tendency
to set too high
arbitrary bars
to challenge myself
to excel—myself
 
I walk in Sisyphus’ footsteps
walk in Sisyphus’ footsteps
in Sisyphus’ footsteps
Sisyphus’ footsteps
footsteps
steps
 
It comes to this—
one
step
at
a
time . . .
 
Journey of a thousand miles
one
     step
          at
               a
                    time
Eat an elephant
one bite at a time
lest it be
more than I can chew.
 
And this bottle
is the best [...]

New Eyes (sonnet)

Keeping New Eyes New
Suzuki taught us to keep beginners’
minds. Each moment a new reality,
ancient as the world, yet newborn. Did he
assume new eyes? Imply that beginners’
minds see with fresh eyes? Yes. And each dinner’s
only in this moment—reality
perpetual in the now, here. No gritty
cynicism. No jaded-heart sinners.
 
We learn together this ever-giving
renewal, despite flashing delusions
that hint impermanence. [...]

Monday Mantra for National Poetry Month

beauty surrounds and inundates everything;
our blindness to it is the only true tragedy
Beauty surrounds and inundates all
today my eyes are open to this
today my heart is open to this
now my spirit soars in beauty!
[This came from a reply to a comment on my blog; it seemed appropriate for a mantra and a short poem in [...]

Time to Grow

Time to Grow Up
Well, I guess it’s time
to get up off my proverbial haunches
roll up my sleeves
and decide who I am
 
Can’t wait
forever
for someone else
to come along
and remind me
who I was
before
or before that
or even yesterday
 
Now
time
to buck up
step out
step up
and make
something
of my life . . .
 

David M Pitchford
18 April 2008

One Step at a Time

Pocketful of Trust
“Be careful who you trust,” Mother told me
a million times. “Bad company corrupts
good morals,” She’d say day after day. So
I left home at birth, wandered four short years
with a pocketful of trust squandered on
a well-meaning mother who spoke from the wrong
side of her mouth . . . as I say, not as do [...]

First Fire

We Charge Ahead
Sword high, arcs low
head rolls
first martyr
revolution
commences
Yet—
our pens are more
mighty than swords
We sling ink
to enrich life
not to end
aught
but to re-
create
Life
vibrant
and well-
lived

From 7 Years Ago

Fifth Street Prophet 
We rode in silence
contemplated something now gone
and gave each other smiles
she, daunted with my need
for silence wanting to touch me
me—out of touch and seven miles gone
wanting for epiphany
I parked the car roadside
She looked me questions
“Back soon”
she wasn’t comforted—too concerned
                        best watch him—
devil got him sure ‘nough
I walked to a shabby man on a [...]