The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Wed 7/30/2008)

[RetroLounge]

The Poem You Asked For

My poem would eat nothing.
I tried giving it water
but it said no,

worrying me.
Day after day,
I held it up to the llight,

turning it over,
but it only pressed its lips
more tightly together.

It grew sullen, like a toad
through with being teased.
I offered it money,

my clothes, my car with a full tank.
But the poem stared at the floor.
Finally I cupped it in

my hands, and carried it gently
out into the soft air, into the
evening traffic, wondering how

to end things between us.
For now it had begun breathing,
putting on more and

more hard rings of flesh.
And the poem demanded the food,
it drank up all the water,

beat me and took my money,
tore the faded clothes
off my back,

said Shit,
and walked slowly away,
slicking its hair down.

Said it was going
over to your place.

Larry Levis

***************

:hi:

RL

[XemaSab]

1. I asked for more Fresno poems?

:shrug: :P

[RetroLounge]

8. Yes, I think you did...

Found an old David St. John book today... :D

:hi:

RL

[Lethe]

2. see, thats good but for one line

I never met a sullen toad. They have all been quite jubilent and buoyant. Completely civil and agreeable these chaps where.

[RetroLounge]

9. Midwest toads can be sullen at times...

It's the winters...

:hi:

RL

[Guava Jelly]

3. This one I like.

You could easily swap the word Poem with Muse.
Fun read.(I actually understand this one)

[RetroLounge]

12. ...

:hi:

RL

[blueraven95]

4. great

thanks for wishing writer's block on me! /jk
:silly:

seriously, this was fun.

[RetroLounge]

15. Hah!

No block wish here...

:hi:

RL

[lizziegrace]

5. This is great

a poem develops an attitude...

"said Shit,
and walked slowly away,
slicking its hair down.

Said it was going
over to your place.

;)




:hug:

[RetroLounge]

16. had my assed kicked by poems before...

:hi:

RL

[xchrom]

6. ...

My poem would eat nothing.
I tried giving it water
but it said no,

[lizziegrace]

7. Hello love...

:hug:



:loveya:

[Dr. Strange]

10. That there is a mean poem.

[RetroLounge]

17. No mean poems, just mean poets...

:hi:

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. My dear Retro!

Woo...that is one mean poem!

Definitely good to have it gone...

Very cool, too...

I enjoyed it!

Thank you!


:hi:

[RetroLounge]

18. ...

:hi:

RL

[hisownpetard]

13. Good one and pretty unusual for Levis in it's light-hearted humor.

Enjoyed it!

[RetroLounge]

14. Hello Friend!

Thanks for dropping in...

:hi:

RL

[stuntcat]

19. I love this one

The end, and also the toad teasing idea :D

[RetroLounge]

20. ...

:hi:

RL