Ponderable polemics, poetic

WordPress site of poet Mark Lucker

introspection

  • January, won

    The first day of a new yearcliché is the currency we traffic innew pages are turnedexpectations for whateverlies aheadexceedingly optimistic self-talk, public proclamationspersonal plans for change, regenerationrenewal carries vagueexpiration date mentally stamped at factorywarning us with certaintylike a gallon of milk ‘hopes will curdle if not used by…’Those with calendars still hanging from walls,refrigeratorsripping last Read more

  • Red Hook, Brooklyn. 07/27/24

    Sitting on the fringe of large patio contemplating retaining wall perch, New York Bay lapping gently every table, chair, square foot occupied genial reverie of twenty, thirty-somethings enjoying summer Saturday night companion and I well beyond the demographic   Our backs to Staten Island, I squint my mind’s eye at ancient brick-warehouse-turned-hip-brewery easily imagining much Read more

  • 07/24/2024

    I cried to my grandparents todaya first for memy father’s parents, who diedbefore I was born never heard their voicesfelt their touch never knew where they wereeven buried until recently I cried to my grandparents todaythey never had a shoulderthey could offerneither ever rocked meto sleep, or just for comfortnever dried one of my tearsuntil Read more

  • What are the Oz?

    Historically considering myself the Scarecrow middle-age, circumstance, time have me contemplating fates identifying a more Tin Man persona seeking oil for locked up joints moving clunkily, at times joyously graceful, others grudgingly accepting assistance from my companions – friends who humor my myriad compunctions to stay out in the rain eschewing consequences for the sheer Read more

  • Missing out

    Living now in a place where, in autumn most leaves stay put clinging to their branches without pretense never having the decency to abandon their vibrant green for appropriate, earthy hues A few adhere to my more familiar, season-bound tradition, true natural order small in numbers generally unnoticed It takes keen effort to scrounge enough of Read more

  • Mercy, me

    ‘There but for the grace of God…’ deity quantification is risky pragmatism ‘There but for…’ God’s grace, graceful mine, clunkily cacophonous in raw implementation two-left feet, I always want to lead God is gracefully mindful of my gaucherie bemused by my attempts at making things more complicated fraught with false starts learned skill accepting grace Read more

  • diurnal

    “…and there’s nothin’ short of dyin’ that’s half as lonesome as the sound of a sleepin’ city sidewalk and Sunday mornin’, comin’ down…” – Kris Kristoffferson There is no respite from the escape the night before, sketchy adrenaline rush of getting there, staying there, leaving behind whatever it was trying to find whatever it is Read more

  • Broadsides

    I once asked God for a sign needing more than spiritual Burma-Shave cardboard placards stapled to raw, rough pine sticks Ah, but I am not advertising my tag-board always blankly devoid of political hate hackneyed slogans five-ninety-nine pizza specials! buy your gold for more! I am not here to direct others to event parking or partake Read more

  • Whereas

    Never having been as naive as I should have been exonerated for crimes against logic bus ticket, new suit outside-the-box thinking box house, never home recycled, repurposed repent sinners! repressed no longer naiveté begat experience I can elocute to it all in open court Get back, honky cats I got this. Flat out truth: I Read more

  • One metmorphisize fits all

    Happily-ever-after mythology prefaces every sequel continuing character-driven sagas story arc only tacking an index onto volume one, three, sixteen in a set having read this scene repeatedly life movies annotated script writing, rewriting books they were based on playing déjà vu-all-over-again never more than countless times here-we-go-again monotony of changing times changing directors same cast Read more