| |
SUBURBAN RECLUSE IN THE SPRING
He watches the painters
their stories, past works on DVD
he knows a great deal
of the frustration, circumstances
pain
he wipes off his black box of materials
or opens a black textured book to write in he knows
the world passes outside, woodpeckers, Cadillacs, R&B, children
playing
watches the sky feels the mist creep over the mountains
lives alone with his animals
hears painful stories of sacrifice, death those left in the wake
relates
them to his own
as he makes the first stroke
of his new creation
he knows.
WAR
POEM
Iraqi war zone behind the Orange
curtain 2:37am Beach Boulevard exit
northbound 5 all traffic turns red comes to a dead stop
cars move through the massacre
people on the side of the freeway
trapped inside remnants of cars
aluminum, glass cover from concrete to shoulder
next to the median
in the gutter
light, engine noise surround him
his shirt is white, hair black
striped blue and orange pattern pajamas
oversize slippers
skin looks brown, about 8 years old
he is not moving
heart wrenched tight, the driver pulls through he yells at those on
the side
hopes they'll check on the boy
avoids the heavy glass, sharp shards of metal there are more people
, more
cars, screams over the engines that try to get through or by
when he is passed them
he calls CHP on a call box
there is a recording asking for money
asking him to wait
all he can think about
is the boy.
In Poetry: Jack began writing in high
school and first attended a reading in 1989. He decided to see if
others would get something out of his work and became published in
1991. He at present, has over 400 poems published and 3 books of
selected works out .He continued going to readings and in 1991 teamed
up with Michael Stephans and Louise Godbold to perform poetry as
Third Person Singular, then later with MIchael and Craig Ingram as
Duotribe, now he is a member of the Furniture Guild poets; Mark
Dixon, Bruce Arnold James Gabriel and Stephen Shepherd.
Jack has written for Poetix magazine, cohosted with Don Campbell,
James Gabriel and the Furniture Guild. He won the Prize for best
poem in the SGVPQ Spring 2004. He continues writing and helping with
readings. His recent Features include: Stray Dog Opening Night and
PCC's Poetry Class.
jackgbowman@charter.net |