I darkened the image and changed the text to black with yellow outlines. Added another pair of words. Still using the same font; I think I’ll play with the colors for a while before changing the font.
Author Archives: ndzied1
The Sea King
(c) Norman Dziedzic Jr.
TheSeaKing, a photo by njdrocket on Flickr.
TheSeaKing, a photo by njdrocket on Flickr.
April Poetry Challenge – Day 1
I have wanted to do this for a long time with this mask that has been hanging on our wall. I really don’t like the font color or selection yet but working each day I can hopefully hone it into something worthwhile.
Coffee Shop Circumstances
Thursday night and almost full
Silently I study the view
From a “comfy chair” in the corner.
Circumstances have made me a
Regular of sorts
But I only recognize one old guy
Kibitzing too long with the barista
Wearing the same bright yellow shirt as last night.
The couple playing Munchkin
are oblivious. Belonging more at a kitchen table but
good for them. I envy their comfort.
Mr. Superman T-shirt commands the
study group at the large table too comfortable with the girl
to be just friends.
Random jazz fills the gaps -
The old guy bites his nails.
The man at the counter is all business while
two couples chat and flirt
away from the kids?
away from the bar?
maybe just away.
With jazz and superman and munchkins,
I drink in what I can of coffee
and time and circumstance
Mr. Sandwich Shop Guitar Man
I see you
Turn your pages
I hear you
Sing your songs
But I know
You are not here with me
You are not here
Next to the soda kiosk
Where thirsty patrons
Bashfully avoid eye contact
While cupping ice and drink
You are not here
Across from the counter
Of energetic salami assemblers
Who call your name
At the end of each song
You are not here
Near the booth
Where the father asks
For Puff the Magic Dragon
Confused when you say you don’t know it
Mr. Sandwich Shop Guitar Man
I see you
On a different stage
At a different time
Without the air of
Pickles and potato chips
Without the air of
Tired moms and milk shakes
Without the air of
Longing to be singing
Anywhere but here
Anywhere but here
But here you are
Singing to the sandwiches
Turning pages to find a tune
Perfect for a ham and swiss
Perfect for a pickle
Perfect for Jackie Paper
And his dad
And the counter jockeys
Who call your name
And bring you back
So your journey
May begin
Again
(c) 2010, Norman Dziedzic Jr.
Bluebird
For the cinquain challenge.
Upwards
Climbing freely
Above the barren field
I saw a bluebird in its nest
Sleeping
December’s Denouement
I actually started this on 12/1 but had to force myself to finish it today…
(c) 2012, Norman Dziedzic Jr.
Autumn exhales, long and slow Spent - by the harvest And the felling of leaves; Tugging at the last brown stragglers. The barren maples and birch Palaver on winter preparations Warily eyeing the constant conifers Who hold tight their secrets. Time is ever even but our division Shifts toward the night. Drifts From the light to algid evenings Descending toward the solstice. And then, though imperceptible Days stretch for the celebrations Late in the season, late in the year. December's denouement.
(c) 2012, Norman Dziedzic Jr.
On the Platform
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”
On the platform,
The CTA platform
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”
And it was the north/south line
And it was the Chicago Avenue Station
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”
And as she talked,
All listened,
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”
And as she sang,
A few drunks laughed,
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”
(and everyone pretended
she wasn’t even there)
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”
And with the rolling of the trains
“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”
All sounds turn
into a dull rumble
anyway.
Care
And then,
when left to chance
I think things move
(in a way)
not unlike
water...
[Each] Going,
but not knowing
Where it must to
fill the
gaps.
And never quite
understanding form.
Or at least
leading us to
believe it doesn't
Care.
.
.
Reflection
You may have to click the title above to see the entire concrete poem. It clips on my screen. Couldn’t find a way to force it to use the entire width.
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Y O U?
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Y E S T E R D A Y? T
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M E? M
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Corner Moon
The moon over a rock formation at Mt. St. Helen’s National Historic Monument.
This Room
This room, three outside walls; Rain, and not the gentle sort; Windows, cracked for the breeze; Thunder cracks through the air; Flashes, Through curtained glass; Sounds of cracks and waves; Silence In-between it all.
Pay Phone
Stovepipe
(c) 2012, Norman Dziedzic Jr.
