Monday, May 20, 2013
We Are In the Waiting Room
The waiting room waits for us
to move through it. Magazines
collect like silt. We try to collect
each other's thoughts; fail;
return to our own. The waiting room
is quieter than most places
of worship. A door opens rudely.
The caller of names holds
a file, speaks two words brusquely.
One of us gets up. No one
says goodbye or good luck.
Those remaining settle too quickly
back into waiting. We've become
like birds on a roost at dusk.
The world cannot end as long as
there are waiting rooms
because that would be too dramatic.
Hans Ostrom 2013
to move through it. Magazines
collect like silt. We try to collect
each other's thoughts; fail;
return to our own. The waiting room
is quieter than most places
of worship. A door opens rudely.
The caller of names holds
a file, speaks two words brusquely.
One of us gets up. No one
says goodbye or good luck.
Those remaining settle too quickly
back into waiting. We've become
like birds on a roost at dusk.
The world cannot end as long as
there are waiting rooms
because that would be too dramatic.
Hans Ostrom 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
"Choking It Back"
Today I happened to be
watching a cat choke back
the urge to vomit
a hair-ball just
as I was thinking of
the sheer number of Americans
who, first, consider themselves
White and, second, simply
cannot abide even the thought
of a Black man as President.
I want to say to them,
Vomit up that hatred, first,
and, second, read a
goddamned history book.
hans ostrom 2013
watching a cat choke back
the urge to vomit
a hair-ball just
as I was thinking of
the sheer number of Americans
who, first, consider themselves
White and, second, simply
cannot abide even the thought
of a Black man as President.
I want to say to them,
Vomit up that hatred, first,
and, second, read a
goddamned history book.
hans ostrom 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Gary Snyder's Birthday Today
It is Gary Snyder's birthday today. My favorite books of poems by him is The Back Country. He was born in San Francisco in 1930.
Here is a brief selection from his nonfiction book, The Practice of the Wild:
Here is a brief selection from his nonfiction book, The Practice of the Wild:
Monday, May 6, 2013
They Don't Want to Hear From You
Lou, they don’t want
to hear from you. They
don’t want to see
anything you do.
You don’t belong, Lou.
So how long you going
to keep asking to be
considered? Lou,
you were born behind
and never caught up.
Stubborn’s not a talent
they’re looking for.
If they had wanted you,
they would have sent
for you by now, Lou. They
would have sent for you.
Hans Ostrom
to hear from you. They
don’t want to see
anything you do.
You don’t belong, Lou.
So how long you going
to keep asking to be
considered? Lou,
you were born behind
and never caught up.
Stubborn’s not a talent
they’re looking for.
If they had wanted you,
they would have sent
for you by now, Lou. They
would have sent for you.
Hans Ostrom
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