A Geraldo Vandré Poem

Sorry If I Don't Mention The Flowers


Walking and singing and following the song
We're all equal, whether arm in arm or not

In schools, on the streets, fields, construction sites

Walking and singing and following the song

Vem, vamos embora que esperar não é saber

Quem sabe faz a hora não espera acontecer

Through the fields the hunger of the great plantations

Through the streets we march in nervous bunches

Still making the flower the strongest verse

We believe that flowers will win against the guns

Vem, vamos embora que esperar não é saber

Quem sabe faz a hora não espera acontecer

There are soldiers (whether they're armed or not)

Who have almost all lost an arm, or a hand

In the forts where they were taught old lessons

To live for their country, & to live without reason

Vem, vamos embora que esperar não é saber
Quem sabe faz a hora não espera acontecer

In schools, on the streets, fields, construction sites

We're all soldiers, whether we are armed or not

Walking and singing and following the song

We're all equal, whether arm in arm or not

Lovers of the mind, of the flowers in the ground

The certainty of your thought, the history of your hand

Walking and singing and following the song

Of learning, & then teaching this new lesson

Vem, vamos embora que esperar não é saber

Quem sabe faz a hora não espera acontecer

(1968) 

— from the Portuguese

MUSIC: Buika, 2 Songs, 26/8/13

Buika's duende. Hear it & see it here.

http://www.npr.org/event/music/214909117/buika-tiny-desk-concert

POEM: "Concha Buika"

Concha Buika

She sings la Nave del Olvido
she sings a thousand songs I loved
she sings un poquito más y más
the burning swell of her breast
the blue guitar and the blues inside it
everyone sings una noche más, it passes
what’s invisible sometimes happens
you close your eyes you hold yourself
you watch the boat leave the harbor again
the world whispers espérame. Hold me tight.

© 2013 Rob Schackne

POEM: "A Dog Show"

A Dog Show


I know it’s just a show trial 
It’s a good dog that understands
you will kill him if he misbehaves
A world of justice won’t ever console you
I say and right then a bitch in heat marches
past his Yorkie with a bow in his hair who
sets after her crack (a little kid is monstered)
our man jumps up knocks over his chair etc.
returns 15 minutes later carrying the thing
And what do we have today on Saturday
that we didn’t have on Friday, huh?
I tried to ask him. No response.


© 2013 Rob Schackne

POEM: "Third Coffee After The Atomic Opera"

Third Coffee After The Atomic Opera


I.

Perfect half-moon we sit outdoors
evensong with double expressos

desperates & not-so-desperates
plying dreams we help to futurize

ancient wishes excavate the East
no idea where the digging leads.

II.

The usual clause that’s in every contract
tear it back down to the Sanity Clause

redraft it as the Liberty Clause
the last precedent of mercy

but there ain’t no sanity
you don’t fool me.


III.

They say there is a pretty spirit
far above the general despair
yesterday was the time for that
sure we will feel what we must

now picture us beautiful beneath
the high dumb parapets of hope
waiting for whose god knows what
for it to humpty-dumpty I guess

is it real bad now please don’t cry
it’s bad enough we have to part
in the middle of this no please don’t
bother OK fetch me anything.


© 2013 Rob Schackne

POEM: "On Thursday"

On Thursday

If reporting this the media must
use standard sources do not speculate
or exaggerate and do not independently
investigate report or comment if reporting
the sunrise human rights or screaming
because the media must use standard
sources and not speculate or exaggerate
human rights screaming or the sunrise
and do not independently investigate report
or comment if reporting this the
media uses the standard sources not
screaming the sunrise or human rights
not speculate or exaggerate and do
not independently investigate report or comment.

© 2013 Rob Schackne

An Amanda Z. Poem

As The Sky Begins To Clear

雨霁云开

淅淅小雨渐声无，

翳翳薄衣恰适时。
杯盏欢声逍遥客，
谁言斯人独寂寞？

The very moment the rain slows down,
A good time to forget about wet clothes.
All the patrons are laughing & singing,
Who knows if this man is lonely?

(2013) Tr. Li Jian Rong & Boris Knack

A John Tranter Poem

Detour


A, hot pink, babies angry when kissed,
Gummy smile clenching to a scowl,
E, snow blessing the street, a lisped vowel
Hiding midnight’s infidelities, the wife pissed,
Smile (angelic) changing to grimace (foul),
Faint flutter of pulse at the wrist
As the Grim Reaper calls with his damned list.
I, sallow salmon, time to throw in the towel

And get outta here. O, tropical jungle green,
U, blue, lavender, dizzy aquamarine –
Padding from the pool, dripping wet, past
Croaking frogs, pythons, hamburger joints
Covered in vines, then a sign in Chinese that points
To the busy city – lights, people – home at last.

(2013)