Liberty only on Sunday

[dcmarti1]

"Poetry is about the grief. Politics is about the grievance."
Robert Frost

Misty and mystic coastline of Yorktown,
Hurried harum-scarum of Jamestown,
Shallow and trifling facades of Williamsburg,
The winding Appomattox, all a bit too far from Norfolk
With Liberty only on Sunday.

An actual record and tape store, whose name
I can no longer even attempt to query,
Two apartments with the same problem:
Addresses irretrievable from any search engine
When even the unit numbers are forgotten.

A grey lady with a man's name,
Reticent, taciturn, moored while Iran CONTRA
Unmasked itself in the city of my future,
Would become the forge of my Mandala,
Would become the shame of my existence.

In Virginia, I lusted after a man
And was rebuffed; In Virginia, I loved
A man and was unrequited.
In Virginia, I had my first taste of
Spoon bread, scrapple, and fried eggs.

[dr_con]

I love these perspective shifts this grieving and grievance saturated with a bittersweet nostalgia and the earthy grounding of 

On 4/28/2019 at 10:22 PM, dcmarti1 said:

In Virginia, I had my first taste of
Spoon bread, scrapple, and fried eggs

All just grist for the mill.... Really excellent work - my favorites of your recent works.

 

Many Thanks!

 

Juris

 

 

[dcmarti1]

21 minutes ago, dr_con said:

I love these perspective shifts this grieving and grievance saturated with a bittersweet nostalgia and the earthy grounding of 

All just grist for the mill.... Really excellent work - my favorites of your recent works.

 

Many Thanks!

 

Juris

 

 

Shifting. Yes, you caught me. Thanks for reading and responding.

[tonyv]

Marti, this is very good. I, too, love this poem, especially the sense of regretfulness that doesn't quite rise to the level of contrition. I love the Mid-Atlantic setting and the references to an era I recall. From "the city of my future" to "the shame of my existence," I know the feeling well. 

Tony

[dcmarti1]

2 hours ago, tonyv said:

Marti, this is very good. I, too, love this poem, especially the sense of regretfulness that doesn't quite rise to the level of contrition. I love the Mid-Atlantic setting and the references to an era I recall. From "the city of my future" to "the shame of my existence," I know the feeling well. 

Tony

So very glad it resonated, and that you liked it. Thank you.