dcmarti1 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Older blackMen stop and ask meWhere in the hell I found aPush-reel mower in this day and age.They tell me the yard looks niceAnd not one cares thatI am white.Ancient blackWomen stop to yellAt me for not wearing shoes,Even though a push-reel does not haveAn engine. They cluck their tonguesBut not one cares thatI am white.Teenage blackGirls snap their fingersAnd necks at intersectionsWith windows rolled down. "White boy cuts grassOn Kennedy Street?" I wantTo kiss them becauseI am old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_con Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 And this. Find both of today's poems to be excellent slices of life. Having lived in Oakland, I can appreciate the perspective here. A wistful slice of life, and the 'Were all in this together' attitude. marvelous. Con/Jur/D Quote thegateless.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 And this. Find both of today's poems to be excellent slices of life. Having lived in Oakland, I can appreciate the perspective here. A wistful slice of life, and the 'Were all in this together' attitude. marvelous. Con/Jur/D Ah, Emile Zola & "slice of life". Yes, I wanted to be earthy in these pieces: I tried to ditch Marlowe and Racine -- well, translated Racine! Again, glad you enjoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdelano Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 I'm betting they thought you a "crazy-assed cracker" with a push mower. Unless you have a tiny lawn, get a mule. ;) And put on your shoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 I'm betting they thought you a "crazy-assed cracker" with a push mower. Unless you have a tiny lawn, get a mule. ;) And put on your shoes! Yes, Franklin, the lawns are quite small up here in the Petworth neighborhood. Shoes? Never! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatekeeper Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 It's going to get worse, you know - that kissing and old business. A curse it is. Quote from the black desert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonqueen Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 marti, I quite like this. Racial issues are some of the things that escape me. I just don't understand why any of it matters, why people are not just people to all others. It doesn't settle in this brain. Very nice work, on this. t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger11 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 A slice of life as Dr C. mentions, though one gender/age is conspicuously absent. enjoyed badge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdelano Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Showing my ignorance. Have reread this "slice of life" a few times. Which gender/age is "conspicuously absent?" Middle-aged Asians, Hispanics, homosexuals, bisexuals or metrosexuals? Does a moment in time have to be all-inconclusive and politically correct? Not critiquing a critique; just trying to learn. To me, the value is in the friendly friction and banter between differing cultures and ages, but I have often been wrong, especially about poetry. fdh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger11 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Which gender/age is "conspicuously absent?" The young, black male. This is not a negative. It adds intrigue to the poem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Which gender/age is "conspicuously absent?" The young, black male. This is not a negative. It adds intrigue to the poem. Um, wow. The absence even escaped me. I did not realize it until you stated this. I may need a rework. :) Thanks also gatekeeper, moonqueen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger11 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I don't think you should add it dcm. Stops the poem becoming formulaic, the absence adds some colour. Just my opinion badge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David W. Parsley Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Hey dc, I really really like this piece, for all the reasons cited. Count me among the don't-mess-with-it crowd. I like the simplicity and subtle idiomatic cadence, the stanza movement, just a touch of ambiguity. Let your soles taste the grass - blade and root, bro. - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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