Derek Polzer - Three Poems

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AN IMAGINED FRAGMENT

From the QUAKER BOOK

of the DEAD



…and one among them

rose & spoke (being moved

so by the Light that illuminates

the Heart of each & all):

“Friends, silence me for my

words are like poison, how can

sound formed in the

mouth of man be sufficient

to carry the Word of God?

Carry me from this house,

cast me out, Friends, for

my tongue blasphemes,

stone me as they did

the ancients who befouled

the name of the Almighty”.

With this, those gathered, rose

& left (weeping) for the Light

shown in them & revealed in

them their hearts which filled all

with unbearable shame & awe.


dp 8/08






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AN OBSCENITY

(for d. a. levy)



when you open

yr mouth & speak

to what has been

concealed (fearing

daylight) they will

nail you nail you

to a cross calling

yr words obscene

nail you naked

to a cross exposing

yr nakedness as to

what is obscene

(immoral) as an offense

to Jesus who was

nailed to a cross

for speaking to

an obscenity (concealed).




dp 8/07






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B E F O R E :



you must leave (before):

before the birds find

yr remains & pick the bones

clean , before the wind

scatters yr leathered flesh

like leaves, (like memory).

before: they condemn

the ground where you lay

(calling it salt)



you must leave so

the rain can wash

those wounds (clean)

clean as linen, clean as

a born child, clean

as hands (before).



dp 7/07




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