A Natty Bard
- — June 25, 2010
Our Style Profile subject, Josie Markiewicz, shares a few poems from his recently completed manuscript, Somewhere a Clown Dies Laughing.
Photograph by Andrew Waits for City Arts.
From afar.
Majestic mountains
instigate soul.
Snow-capped peaks
scream subtle serenades.
Like giant stone sirens
making love to the clouds.
I long to weep
at their obviousness.
For a pairing so perfect
deserves at least a tear,
or a downpour of words
that will surely
fall far short.
These fluttering organs-
interactive/reactionary
compose chaos;
weave melody.
Welcome the horizon.
Seventy-four degrees and sunny.
These, freedom feelings
earned, and well deserved.
Today I am one with the swallows.
Radioactive and sure.
An afternoon smoke,
Honeysuckle and cigarettes.
Ah, to be forever well in mind.
Some speak only to impress.
With twisted tongue,
not knowing where from why.
Who from what transpires thought
from impulse to desire?
I tire of this sick charade.
Stale light from a cooler door
reveals sad truths.
Words are weapons in unjust hands.
Liquor adheres to temptation.
Riding it like a pony
into the dawn of lurid consequence.
Pick up a copy of the July issue of City Arts Seattle to read about Josie's international hat collection and his distate for Uggs.
