Your new love, The exigencies of class, The way to Dante's Hell, While machines lie idle in the field & Yet, and, but
by Morgan Harlow
[ poetry - june 08 ]
Your new love
Your new love is beautiful, a lucky lodestone, a rocket.
She water skis the Baltic, takes you by the arm
in a crowded room where all eyes are on
the two of you. In my hand you set
a pin in case I care to reach you, yet
it bears her name and telephone
and the tiniest oak leaf charm
I've ever seen. Truly eclectic,
your new love, she made it with her own hands out of lemming fur.
And I remember how, long ago,
you asked me to drive the cows back into Joe's pasture
after you left the gate open. You had to go.
I did it gladly, it was in my nature
to give and take, life's ebb and flow.
The exigencies of class
We shan't reward the poor
for being so,
the lot they've struck in life,
for they must suck the sour mash
while we extol
the virtues of the sweet.
And, in turn, they will not be
allowed to cry afoul
regarding limits of good taste and caste--
for what is free and easier to endow,
than the chance for them to see
our great success.
The way to Dante's Hell
Do you see that curving branch the cat walks under?
Green leaves conceal the arched descent to earth.
Autumn winds prepare the kindling for the fire
baring sticks which lead us on to hope
for Spring! When thorn will blossom
once again.
While machines lie idle in the field
We're the ones
who step in gum
and walk around
dumbfounded.
Yet, and, but
Yet she knew they would not be sympathetic, she
would have to work a 9 to 5 job. And with no proper
shoes for it. But she would be able to get medication;
yes, and that would make all the difference.
