The Wild Storm
By Robert Roach
[I wrote most of this when I was 18 or 19 and doing my best to sound like Jim Morrison.]
1.
do you remember
those last wild days of August
the dog-eared hours
the desperate kisses?
do you remember
fumbling with zippers
the green shag
the pink terry towel slippers?
do you remember
the long dark summer we spent together?
2.
Night’s unmade bed
was smoothed
by Dawn’s fingers
like a French kiss
she tied her hair
with a wave from the sea
Judas kissed Jesus
and nobody could see us
a sudden river of silk
ran down her shoulder
and disappeared beneath
a labyrinth of cotton
she kissed me quietly
just before the movie ended
her dad was transferred
and I never saw her again
3.
The circus came to town
the goddess
the princess
the troubadour
the clown
wedding bells
carousels
cotton comforter
campfire kisses
awkward dreams
and desperate wishes
the Sun leaned against a wall
and Time stuck her thumb
in the ribs of my desire
Night entered
lugging her cathedral
and the show began
4.
I tried to kiss the red lips
of Knowledge
and burrow my head
into her mossy shoulder
but she was fickle
and only laughed
5.
I watched the parade pass by
into a brown haze
lovers
losers
actors
and clowns
a lone tango dancer
and a relative of someone famous
6.
she came to me in the night
and pressed her velvet lips
against my green flesh
we read books of matches
with French cigarettes
smoked the night
coughed up the dawn
and stole the treasure of the shade
from the cedars of Lebanon
7.
she filled the space
in my unmade heart
with soup kitchen love
and an alcohol smile
8.
outlaws
hobos
migrant kings
angels
and sailors
I call on you
to pray
9.
wrapped in the feather coat
of desire
searching for her India
and my America
everything
fading
spinning
urgent
and thick with meaning
10.
do you remember
those electric moments
and running the hem of every outskirt?
do you remember
our barstool love affair?
By Robert Roach
[I wrote most of this when I was 18 or 19 and doing my best to sound like Jim Morrison.]
1.
do you remember
those last wild days of August
the dog-eared hours
the desperate kisses?
do you remember
fumbling with zippers
the green shag
the pink terry towel slippers?
do you remember
the long dark summer we spent together?
2.
Night’s unmade bed
was smoothed
by Dawn’s fingers
like a French kiss
she tied her hair
with a wave from the sea
Judas kissed Jesus
and nobody could see us
a sudden river of silk
ran down her shoulder
and disappeared beneath
a labyrinth of cotton
she kissed me quietly
just before the movie ended
her dad was transferred
and I never saw her again
3.
The circus came to town
the goddess
the princess
the troubadour
the clown
wedding bells
carousels
cotton comforter
campfire kisses
awkward dreams
and desperate wishes
the Sun leaned against a wall
and Time stuck her thumb
in the ribs of my desire
Night entered
lugging her cathedral
and the show began
4.
I tried to kiss the red lips
of Knowledge
and burrow my head
into her mossy shoulder
but she was fickle
and only laughed
5.
I watched the parade pass by
into a brown haze
lovers
losers
actors
and clowns
a lone tango dancer
and a relative of someone famous
6.
she came to me in the night
and pressed her velvet lips
against my green flesh
we read books of matches
with French cigarettes
smoked the night
coughed up the dawn
and stole the treasure of the shade
from the cedars of Lebanon
7.
she filled the space
in my unmade heart
with soup kitchen love
and an alcohol smile
8.
outlaws
hobos
migrant kings
angels
and sailors
I call on you
to pray
9.
wrapped in the feather coat
of desire
searching for her India
and my America
everything
fading
spinning
urgent
and thick with meaning
10.
do you remember
those electric moments
and running the hem of every outskirt?
do you remember
our barstool love affair?