FOUR POEMS

 INSPIRED

Inspiration comes from unexpected places

Especially from others with smiling expressions on their faces.

So I took pen in hand for a lofty literary review

And at midnight, after eating a late nosh, I had something to do. 

My work was labeled filled with “self-pity?”

Wow, I internalized that opinion and decided to be more witty. 

But I pondered that conclusion and it seemed a puzzling disconnect

It was a bewildering deduction; I did a quick mental 360: should I be wrecked?

I began to think: was I being “extra” as I crafted non LULZ poems 

Or was I just branding my special form of high end well praised tomes?

How can some be critical about masterpieces filled with melancholy

And think that lower level pieces would be greater if they were jolly?

But, I investigated what is “trending” and causing much chatter

And I decided to get laser focused on that difficult matter.

I was told “sex sells” and of course that is not a shocker

Oye, with my aches and pains at my age I am just an alter kocker.

I decided to be more cheerful and cut back on the sorrow

I analyzed my mantra and I look forward to tomorrow.

I put on my Gucci tee and my bag labeled Christian Dior

And lo and behold my neighbors embraced me for never being a bore.

They greeted me in the lobby with high fives and welcomes and such

And we went to 16 Handles and devoured chocolate ice cream much. 

Will this poem go viral and get the attention of Kanye?
I contacted him on twitter and asked “Whatta ya know, whatta ya say?”

He did not answer but Sharon Olds, Louise Gluck, and Rae Armantrout

Chuckled in replies and asked me to join them for tea at a place with clout.

We time traveled to the famous and legendary Algonquin Round Table

And they had red wine and I asked for a schmear mit a pumpernickel bagel.

OMG a few tables away sat the infamous and brilliant Michio Kaku

He was gobsmacked that we went through a wormhole and said: “Who knew?”

Whatever, ver vais… let’s go back to 2021 with haste we have much to do.

I hope this poem I do not have to edit

If I do I want engraved in the Library of Congress that credit. 

Yikes, this hot bad boy I love just stifled a weird sound

I hope he still digs me cause from that bagel I gained a pound. 

by Marjorie J. Levine © 2021

STORM

Wednesday: 

It was a perfect storm

On a particular almost desolate highway.

The curves in the grounded road were often 

Filled with traffic but on stormy days, 

Sometimes not.

There was a sudden present on one day

One hard rainy day when water filled the air

In moments that gathered and pushed to

A new present with water and visible 

Angled lightning that passed in the rear view.

One life, that on most stripped down days

Barely mattered to many or oddly even any,

Turned and that dusk was carved into memory. 

On that day, it was a blurry remarkable 

Occurrence that happened in almost

Darkness, when the grey ripples 

Of thunder in the air parted and 

Forced her to listen to nothing. 

But she remembered,

She remembered… to slow down. 

And then with no warning,

A rapid appearance startled. 

And right, moving to left, 

From one side to the other side

Two old bent strangers with 

No umbrellas, but holding hands… 

Crossed the road.

© Marjorie J. Levine 2021

AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

She sits wishing something fortuitous will enter her day

And as she types in bold font she finds nothing new to say.

Her work is bland and dull and never cuts with a sharp knife

So she plays chess online to try to mitigate her strife. 

Every day is a rerun, nothing different and nothing new is ever said

And after watching Buzzr and laughing at Password Plus she goes to bed. 

In her dreams she meets Frankie Avalon who asks her out on a date

And when she awakens she truly believes he could have been her fate. 

If truth be told she believes she is delusional but tries not to pout and mope

Because honestly without her imagination each day would be a difficult cope. 

Go get this, go get that, go for a drive and go get the mail

A travel brochure arrived and the picture of the Mediterranean entices her to sail. 

So she packs up her stuff and considers taking a pink cute little bikini

But the last time she wore it she was insulted by a crude meanie. 

Life is fraught with ups and downs and taking chances is hard I know

But at least today she has a future and she is not yet six feet below.

What is this puzzle on this planet all about she wonders aloud

Is there nothing she can leave behind of which she can be proud?

She finds a little old black and white photo when she was little and small

It seems like just yesterday when she wore a diaper and that was all.

So now she is old and why did the years pass so quickly into a puddle

It is bewildering and confusing and a riddle that seems like a muddle. 

She can stick big words and metaphors into this thing she sits writing

But honestly, at the end of the day would a reader find it more biting?

And so another day ends and she pulls up her orange weighted blanket

A new trip will begin and magical thinking will be her impetus to crank it.

Then she will return home to a dusty apartment that needs painting

And for some laughs she will dance the tango in her lobby and then feign fainting. 

That’s it! It’s all about the comedy and jokes

Without laughter we simply have no hopes. 

© Marjorie J. Levine 2021

LUCID DREAMING

Inspiration comes from unexpected places

Especially from others with smiling expressions on their faces.

So I took pen in hand for a lofty literary review

And at midnight, after eating a late snack, I had something to do. 

My previous work was labeled filled with “self-pity!”

I internalized that opinion and decided to be more witty. 

But I pondered that conclusion and it seemed a puzzling disconnect

It was a bewildering deduction; I did a quick mental 360: should I be wrecked?

I began to think: was I being “extra” as I crafted sad poems 

Or was I just branding my special form of high end well praised tomes?

How can some be critical about pieces filled with melancholy

And think that other work would be greater if they were jolly?

But, I investigated what is “trending” and causing much chatter

And I decided to get laser focused on a difficult matter.

I was told “sex sells” and of course that is not surprising

But, with my new interests I prefer word designing.

I decided to be more cheerful and cut back on the sorrow

I analyzed my mantra and I look forward to tomorrow.

I put on my Gucci tee and my bag labeled Christian Dior

And lo and behold my neighbors embraced me for never being a bore.

They greeted me in the lobby with high fives and welcomes and such

And we went to a party and devoured chocolate ice cream much. 

Will this poem go viral and get the attention of Kanye?
I contacted him on twitter and asked “Whatta ya know, whatta ya say?”

He did not answer but Sharon Olds, Louise Gluck, and Rae Armantrout

Chuckled in replies and asked me to join them for tea at a place with clout.

We time traveled to the famous and legendary Algonquin Round Table

And they had red wine and I asked for a cola and a pumpernickel bagel.

OMG a few tables away sat the infamous and brilliant Michio Kaku

He was gobsmacked that we went through a wormhole and said: “Who knew?”

Whatever… let’s go back to 2021 with haste we have much to do.

I hope this poem I do not have to edit

If I do I want engraved in the Library of Congress that credit. 

© Marjorie J. Levine 2021