Saturday, May 26, 2007

A Tender Age

in this corner, a dog is screaming

he is calling your name
Oliver, Oliver

you have better things to do

you in your urchin shirt
rusty shoes, hat full
of night and spiders

you sneak the hubcaps
off dead men’s eyes

you borrow morning
ransom it for some
chilled red soup

you tuck bracelets, brooches,
feathered hat pins in your pockets

they clank an odd song when you run
they rub together like bones in your thin
shoulder joint

no meat
no meat
for the strangers’ mouths

for the dog still barking

for the profiles made of metal and gems

when the street lights pop on
so many bad ideas over so many
dusty, perfumed heads

you are just getting started
your business hawking pocket watches
stealing time
and other boys’ tender teeth

7 comments:

Valerie Loveland said...

So many great images in this one! I like the dog calling, Oliver. Clank an odd song when you run. sneak hugbaps off dead men's eyes.

Christine E. Hamm, Poet Professor Painter said...

Thanks Valerie!

This one was actually inspired by some (non-confessional) Plath.

Hugbaps??

Collin Kelley said...

Love it!

sam of the ten thousand things said...

Enjoyed this a great deal, Christine. Nice work.

Christine E. Hamm, Poet Professor Painter said...

Thanks Collin! This one just got the smack down from Ocho. Oh well.

sam of the ten thousand things said...

I like the progression of imagery here - "urchin shirt / rusty shoes, hat full / of night and spiders." Good form as well, Christine.

Favorite part:

when the street lights pop on
so many bad ideas over so many
dusty, perfumed heads

Christine E. Hamm, Poet Professor Painter said...

Thanks, Sam. A lot of people had trouble with the "urchin shirt", but I like it because of the repeating sounds.