Tom Gallison 2.12.1969 ~ 2.25.2000
the illusion is that you are simply
reading this poem.
the reality is that this is more than a poem.
this is a beggars knife.
this is a tulip.
this is a soldier marching
through Madrid.
this is you on your
death bed.
this is Li Po laughing
underground.
this is not a god-damned
poem.
this is a horse asleep.
a butterfly in
your brain.
this is the devil's
circus.
you are not reading this
on a page.
the page is reading you.
feel it?
it's like a cobra.
it's a hungry eagle
circling the room.
this is not a poem.
poems are dull,
they make you
sleep.
these words force you
to a new
madness.
you have been blessed,
you have been pushed
into a
blinding area of
light.
the elephant dreams
with you
now.
the curve of space
bends and laughs.
you can die now.
you can die now as
people were meant to
die:
great,
victorious,
hearing the music,
being the music,
roaring,
roaring,
roaring.
Splash --Charles Bukowski
Open your mouth and maybe you'll open your mind
just take a taste and don't go on wasting your time
and if you're looking for a way out of a bind
black beans and cornpone you will surely find,
Black beans and cornpone
ham salad and stir-fried rice
Thai chicken and pot pies
a concoction to make everything nice...
Black Beans and Cornpone --Tom Gallison and joe Wilford 1989 - written on the back of a placemat in a New Jersey diner.
reading this poem.
the reality is that this is more than a poem.
this is a beggars knife.
this is a tulip.
this is a soldier marching
through Madrid.
this is you on your
death bed.
this is Li Po laughing
underground.
this is not a god-damned
poem.
this is a horse asleep.
a butterfly in
your brain.
this is the devil's
circus.
you are not reading this
on a page.
the page is reading you.
feel it?
it's like a cobra.
it's a hungry eagle
circling the room.
this is not a poem.
poems are dull,
they make you
sleep.
these words force you
to a new
madness.
you have been blessed,
you have been pushed
into a
blinding area of
light.
the elephant dreams
with you
now.
the curve of space
bends and laughs.
you can die now.
you can die now as
people were meant to
die:
great,
victorious,
hearing the music,
being the music,
roaring,
roaring,
roaring.
Splash --Charles Bukowski
Open your mouth and maybe you'll open your mind
just take a taste and don't go on wasting your time
and if you're looking for a way out of a bind
black beans and cornpone you will surely find,
Black beans and cornpone
ham salad and stir-fried rice
Thai chicken and pot pies
a concoction to make everything nice...
Black Beans and Cornpone --Tom Gallison and joe Wilford 1989 - written on the back of a placemat in a New Jersey diner.
