2 poems

by jack dale coody

illustrations by konrad kraus

"i" who is this “i” that walks the earth? blind from eternity cursed from birth who is he who follows my steps moloch’s henchman satan’s adept? who is that walking along the shore silently laughing keeping score? who is she who knows my fears but when i approach her disappears?

people people do the best they can some collect bottle caps, some are baseball fans they have been taught not to just scream and shout so they need to find something to talk about they sit on benches and wait for rides because they have no place to hide and when they get to where they are going they forget what they were supposed to be knowing they sit upright on sofas and chairs drink chamomile tea and eat chocolate eclairs discuss the weather and the harvest of grapes as breezes caress the drawing room drapes long ago and far away madam sent the servants away shut up the rooms except three or four now they wait for armaggedon’s roar why did humans come down from the trees to be seduced by eternities expecting things that don’t exist very well, my dear, if you insist