ray-zimmerman
Ray has performed his poems and served as master of ceremonies at events in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the surrounding region. He is author of the chap book, First Days and editor of Southern Light: Twelve Contemporary Southern Poets. His poems have appeared in 2nd and Church magazine, Nashville, Sound Track not Included, Nashville, A Tapestry of Voices, Knoxville, and The Southern Poetry Anthology, University of Texas Press.
An old black vulture landed in a tree
overlooking Chickamauga Creek;
gave me a sidelong glance.
I thought of Edward Abbey,
critic of government agencies,
professor and park ranger.
Abbey is buried in an illegal grave;
a cairn of stones covers
his remains.
His friends saw to his request,
wrote on one stone,
“Edward Abbey, no comment.”
The nemesis of Glen Canyon Dam
desired no memorial,
got one anyway.
He always said he’d come back
as a vulture next time,
just seemed fitting.
I looked up into the oak,
said, “Hey there Ed,
looks like a good day for flying.”
Abbey didn’t say a word
just gave me that sidelong look,
the old buzzard.
Jun 11, 2015
Jun 11, 2015 at 11:05 PM UTC
I climb the limestone stairs
through an arch in rock,
into the earth’s womb,
pass through to a surprise:
George loves Lisa painted on a wall.
I wonder, did he ever tell her?
Did she ever know or think of him,
raise a brood of screaming children?
Did they kiss near wild ginger
above the stony apse?
Did lady’s slipper orchids
adorn their meeting place
where deer drink from rocky cisterns?
Did their love wither like maidenhair fern,
delicate as English Lace?
The symbols have outlived the moment.
There is only today, only
the murmur of water underground,
my finding one trickle into a pool.
I never knew this George or Lisa.
The rock bears their names in silence,
names the stream forgot long ago.
Jun 9, 2015
Jun 9, 2015 at 7:40 AM UTC
This message brought to you
By the Tennessee Valley Authority
By business, industry, and government
By progress, prosperity and jobs
Mercury
It’s an element
It’s a metal
It’s a liquid
It’s toxic
Mercury
It’s a capsule
Launched into space
To splash down
In the Pacific Ocean
Alan Shepherd rode the first
Mercury
Capsule into space
Splashed down in
The pages of history books
Tennessee River waters contain
Mercury
Not the space capsule
But the element
It’s a metal
It’s a liquid
It’s toxic
Tennessee River fish contain
Mercury
Not the space capsule
But the element
It’s a metal
It’s a liquid
It’s toxic
Pregnant women
should not eat
these fish
Nursing mothers
Should not eat
These fish
Children
Should not eat
These fish
Adult males
May eat
These fish
Women past child bearing age
May eat
These fish
Elderly people
Are encouraged to eat
These fish
Homeless people
Are required to eat
These fish
That is all
Have a nice day
Jun 3, 2015
Jun 3, 2015 at 9:11 PM UTC
Words to the future
Dry phrases among the sand
Where we come ashore
Jun 3, 2015
Jun 3, 2015 at 9:00 PM UTC