"michal" poems
A baby clutches his mother’s dress
Unaware of how it will save his life
Unwary of the saving grace that will come to rest
The child is soft and clean
His name is Eugenius, the second of three
After Richard, before Michal
He is just a babe, no bigger than an infant can be
A toddler clutches his mother’s dress, the hem
Unaware of tragedy
Unwary of the Horror that awaits him
The child is frightened and shaking
His name is Gene, the second of three
After Richard, before Michal
He is just a little one, no taller than Mama’s knee
A child clutches his mother’s hand
Unaware from behind her skirt as they are herded
Unwary of the disaster to come from the cart
His name is Genie, the second of three
Before Mikey, after Richie
He is just a child, no higher than Tata’s knee
A boy holds his brother’s hand tight
Unaware of the danger he is in
Unwary that the coin from Mama’s skirts will save his life
The boy is healthy and strong, though not for long
His name is Gene, the second of three
Before Michal, after Richard
He is naïve, but soon to grow up prematurely
A prisoner holds his own shirt, unsure
Unaware of the pain that is coming
Unwary that he shall walk away nevermore
The prisoner is hurting and ******
His name is “Gefangene,” the second of two
After Richard, before the crimson mess
He is crying for a ****** towel carried by
A handicap clutches Mama’s leg
Aware that he cannot cry as she shuffles him out
Wary that outside her skirts is the hunt
The handicap is hurting so badly
His name is Gene, the second of three
After Richard, before the new bump
He is unwilling to believe
A kaleka holds tight to his brother’s back
Aware that he is a burden
Wary that he is a load
The kaleka is waiting, waiting.
His name is Gene, second of three
After Richard, before Theresa
The kaleka is ready for release
The dziecko holds again to Mama’s skirt
Aware that he is now free to leave
Wary that he will never be independent
The dziecko is elated and mourning
His name is Gene, the second of three
Before Theresa, after Richard
The dziecko will never be the same
Sixty five years later
Gene holds Rosie’s hand tight
Aware that he is old now, having lived fully
Wary that death is imminent at last
The great-grandfather is peaceful and content
His name is Tata, Grandpa, Gene, husband, and more
He is the last one left of his war
The survivor is ready to reunite with his family
He gives thanks to Hattie’s skirts
That kept him alive though the hurts.
Jul 7, 2017
Jul 7, 2017 at 11:09 AM UTC
Thumb out, he hitchhikes from Prague
to the south of France, floats
the Marais Poitevin face-up
on a flatboard, sees
the last sunbeam slip behind the Louvre, sings
a song he calls "To California", snores
on one more of his friends' floors,
four euro to his name.
May 23, 2013
May 23, 2013 at 11:36 PM UTC
[Author's Note: These are song lyrics.]
When I'm pining for the power to yield
Breaking all the branches I seize
Acres for the taking in a forest of mistakes
I can't see for the trees
I level
With the shallow playing field
Dreaming up a blueprint to floor you
Delicately drafting
Inconspicuously crafting
The grand facade before you
Where my art lies
The best is underwhelming
When it comes to helping
How I promised I woul...
So I'm peeking past the pitch of my prime
Modeling the modern stage
Perforating patience with a paradox
In place of where the sophist meets the sage
I level
With the hallowed bottom line
Hopeful like the point of a nail
Architecture fractures
In apocalyptic rapture
Where false frameworks prevail
There my heart lies
The beat is overwhelming
When it comes to helping
How I swore I could
I guess I'm knocking on wood
Knock knock knocking on wood
Excess
Will not lead to progress
Will not let me access
What I learned I should
Rid me of
Termites
Crawling into airtight
Trademarks of my disguise
Make me decide I'm good
When I'm just knocking on wood
Knock knock knocking on wood
Knock knock knocking on wood
© Michal Czechak 2016
Apr 24, 2016
Apr 24, 2016 at 1:56 PM UTC
[Author's Note: These are song lyrics.]
Distracted
Restlessly inactive
Desperate for the formula for joy
Attracted
Recklessly reactive
Rescued from the silence of the void
(Hearing everything)
From under the frozen ground
You walk on by
I explode
Without so much as a sound
And then you're near!
Trembling like the earth
Inside
The ice that disappears
Blown softly open
By degrees
As slight as deep
Morning tundra yawns
A filthy whine
Disturbing the soil of years
A product of my environment
Skeptical and wired
More than a little irrelevant
Always so tired
Of tragedies already written
Of competition for roles
To survive, win or lose,
To pay the price for repetition
I vow to leave this spectacle behind
But then you're here!
Barer than the trees
Outside
Your buzzing, breathless fear
Blown softly over
By a breeze
As light as sleep
Budding blossoms weep
A minted sigh
Releasing the doubt alive in me
(Please)
Baby come for me
Let me know your zeal
Let me know your greed
Let me know you feel
Even if you may not love me
Baby come for me
(Born of the urge
To devour what is beautiful
Favor the nectar of a queen
Torn by the surge
To divide the irreducible
Savor the subtle taste of spring)
Into everything
Over fertile ground
You walk on by
I explo-
© Michal Czechak 2010-2016
Apr 23, 2016
Apr 23, 2016 at 4:10 PM UTC
They are not meat drapes;
But they are meat tapestries -
Sometimes less is more.
© Michal Czechak 2016
Apr 26, 2016
Apr 26, 2016 at 4:46 PM UTC
Appetites belie intelligence
Heat the quantum furnace
Furious bellows
Enduring the excitement
Behold...!
Can you not hear the rumble brewing?
Butchers trained
To spin the looms
Tailors primed
To know a good cut when they see one
Everybody washes their hands
We have a guest!
Creator?
How are you this fine evening?
--
Denizens imbibe libations
Chase the dreams of spirits
Curious followers
Beckoning the light
Beware...!
Can you not see the trouble stewing?
Mountains flow
As rivers erupt
Legs give in
As arms are taken out
Secretly
Demanding of You:
When will our time come?
Creator?
Will you let us know?
--
Is there nothing?
We hope not
Is there something?
If so...
Be gone, idle fraud!
Blinded by entropy's darkening gaze
Atrophied in futility of wealth
Staking a claim on the horrors of Nature
To process
To cycle
Unmercifully
Spent
Creator?
Are you there?
We pray you order our chaos, but
Once we know what You know
What will there be left to say?
© Michal Czechak 2016
Apr 26, 2016
Apr 26, 2016 at 12:42 PM UTC
I. Metaphor
All things now: sound like,
Look like, feel like - seem to be;
But, like, what, like, is?
II. Structure
Temptation Tower;
Ground Zero for Sin and Death -
Hope lies in the Ash.
III. Story
Once Upon a Time,
We were Happily Ever
After - 'til The End.
© Michal Czechak 2007 - 2016
Apr 25, 2016
Apr 25, 2016 at 7:44 PM UTC
Knowing weakness is my only strength
Plots may quicken
Holes may show
Sowing weakness is my only strength
Plots may thicken
Souls may grow
Knowing weakness is my only strength
© Michal Czechak 2016
Apr 24, 2016
Apr 24, 2016 at 3:20 PM UTC
[Author's Note: These are song lyrics.]
Thinkin' of breakin'
A habit or two
Thinkin' about bein' better for you
Thinkin' of great things
Instant and true
But thinkin's about all I know how to do
When I'm so new at this
Growin' old
When nothin's for certain
Nothin's too bold
If I change my body
Will it change my mind?
If I'm kind to Fortune
Will She be, in kind?
Hopin' for money
Time so it pays
Hopin' to start realignin' my ways
Hopin' for patrons
I can amaze
But hopin's about all I'm doin' these days
While I'm so new at this
Growin' old
When nothin's for certain
Nothin's too bold
If I change my body
Will it change my mind?
If I'm kind to Fortune
Will She be, in kind?
Talkin' to people
Talkin' so slow
Talkin' to hide what we don't wanna know
Talkin' so high
It's makin' me low
But talkin's just fine when there's nowhere to go
Oh I'm still new
And it's gettin' old
When nothin's forever
Nothin's foretold
'Cause I'll lose my body
And I'll lose my mind
'Cause I'm tied to Fortune
And she ain't too kind
© Michal Czechak 2016
Apr 25, 2016
Apr 25, 2016 at 6:23 PM UTC
My love is like ice
In the palm of your hand
I puddle
Release to preserve
Endure to exhaust
My lust is like fire
At the back of your hand
I singe
Release to preserve
Endure to exhaust
© Michal Czechak 2011 - 2016
Apr 25, 2016
Apr 25, 2016 at 9:14 PM UTC