Different Slants

I had an idea for a story
While driving to work today
But I had to buy a new black pen
Before my idea floated away

So I stopped at my local Stationary Store
Which seemed like a science and industry museum
It had every new gadget in the world on display
Except a clerk to help you, when you need ‘em

All I need to write a story
Is paper, a pen and some silence
But that store’s vast array of metal on display
Made it seem like a place of violence

I think I’m a pretty good photographer
I adjust for the light, focus and click
Now the cameras do every damn thing
And I’m more like an…asterisk

I’m not very good with computers
I can’t get my messages when away
Can’t upload or download, or anything else
I get more frustrated, it seems, every day

The very newest items I see for sale
Become old-fashioned within a week
The smallest Gizmos cost the most
I guess everything’s made out of Teak

I don’t Google or wear a phone on my ear
To me, a BlackBerry…is a fruit
When I ask for help in my Stationary Store
The young clerks think my confusion, is cute

If you buy some expensive new system
And it breaks–the store throws it away
Nothing is built to last, I guess
Real quality has no meaning today

I’m trapped in an Alice-In-Wonderland world
Where everything moves too fast
I used to think I knew everything
But I guess my time…has passed

One day, I’ll find me a …Time Machine!
That’ll send me back to 1950
When someone replaces a button with a zipper–
I’ll say: “Boy, that’s nifty!”

The world is hurtling by like a rocket
Guys like me are left behind, I fear
But all you plugged-in people just plunge on ahead
I’m gonna linger…a while longer…back here…

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Published April 25, 2007

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Note from the Author:

Robert M. Katzman, owner of Fighting Words Publishing Company, with four different titles currently in print and over 4,000 books sold to date, is seeking more retail outlets for his vivid and non-fiction inspirational books: 

Independent bookstores, Jewish and other religious organizations, Chicago historical societies or groups, English teachers who want a new voice in their class who was a witness to history, book clubs, high schools or museum gift shops.  I will support anyone who supports me by giving readings in the Chicago Metro area.  I have done this over 40 times, and I always sign my books, when asked.  Everyone, positively everyone, asks.  I was amazed, at first, by that.

Individuals who wish to order my books can view the four book covers and see reviews of them at www.FightingWordsPubco.com 

There are links to YouTube and podcasts, as well.  Or, anyone can call me directly at (847) 274-1474.  Googling my name will also produce all kinds of unusual results.  That other Robert M. Katzman, now deceased, whose name will also appear and who also published, was a doctor.  He actually bought one of my books!  Such a nice man.  Rest in peace, Dr. Katzman.

There will be short poems, stories and essays published in this space every two weeks by either myself or my co-blogist Richard G. Munden, or both.  If you find our postings thought provoking, moving or even amusing, please tell others to come view this site.  We will find our strength in your numbers.

 Next year, I will publish my fifth book, a collection of my best poetry and essays, called,

        I Seek the Praise of Ordinary Men

Individuals who know of independent bookstores that might be interested in a rough-hewn guy like me, who ran a chain of newsstands for 20 years in Chicago, please tell them about my books, will you?  I am partial to independent bookstores, having owned two, myself, until my last one was killed by the giant chains, in 1994. I still miss it. 

I’m also looking to find someone who would want to make a play out of some of my stories in the Chicago area, so I could go there and do some readings sometimes.  I think there’s enough honest sex, drugs and rock n’ roll to hold anyone’s interest, as well as a lot of authentic dialogue from ordinary people in extraordinary situations.  I think the plays would work anywhere, frankly, in some intimate theater with talented actors.

I wrote this attached poem on Friday, April 13, 2007, after interviewing Mike Hecht, the 88-year-old man who wrote the forward to my first book.

There was a line in the last part of my description of Mike that seemed to vibrate. I thought about what it meant, what I really was trying to express and that line became the title of the poem.

Maybe anti-Bush or people in the anti-war movement can make useof it. Just a thought,

The Titanic sunk yesterday, 95 years ago, and Pres. Lincoln was shot, 142 years ago. I hope we all have better days then all those unfortunate people.

Today, beginning last night, is Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. Take a moment to think about it. Whether you are observant or not, whether you think about Judaism less than a minute a year, would have made no difference to Hitler. Who your grandparents or great-grandparents were, would be enough reason for the Nazis to kill you.

I think about that, and wonder what I would have done, if I were trapped in a situation like that, today.
What would you do today, if you knew then, what you know now? Maybe the poem will motivate you to action. I hope so.

Robert M. Katzman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Seek The Praise Of Ordinary Men

by Robert M. Katzman

I seek the praise
Of Ordinary Men
Whose lives I reveal
And then capture by pen

Men who slaughter cows
Who farm and cut trees
Men who suffer pain
In theirs backs, in their knees

Carpenters, Cops
Women who teach
People who protest
And march in the streets

Slaves to computers
Men who pour steel
Sentenced to their lives
And there is no appeal

Oil-stained Mechanics
With grease on their hands
Printers and Plumbers
Now, where are their fans?

Smoke-eating Firemen
God fearing people
Rabbis and Mosques
A Temple, a Steeple

Citizens who vote
For ‘promise-making’ men
Though they’ve been lied to
Again and again

Men who plant trees
Electricians and Nurses
Wistful Mothers in stores
With no cash in their purses

Cowboys, Truck Drivers
Railroad ticket-punchers
Artists and Writers
Quiet souls who crunch numbers

I write stories of hope
Screams of outrages
Real people, real lives
Who come alive on my pages

Stories about anger
People cruel or wise
Not just about my life
Because I hear the cries

Of the children whose fathers
Were sent off to war
Who can’t comprehend
What they’re fighting for

I hear you, I see you
I feel your frustration
With our country derailed
With our misguided Nation

Every person matters
Though poor, with no power
A Man’s not more precious
Because his name’s on a Tower

I write about hope
Revenge and satisfaction
I urge you to resist
To become Men of Action

So I write with a passion
Again and again
Because I want to get it right
For all you “Ordinary Men”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Friday, April 13 2007

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note from the Author:

Robert M. Katzman, owner of Fighting Words Publishing Company, with four different titles currently in print and over 4,000 books sold to date, is seeking more retail outlets for his vivid and non-fiction inspirational books: 

Independent bookstores, Jewish and other religious organizations, Chicago historical societies or groups, English teachers who want a new voice in their class who was a witness to history, book clubs, high schools or museum gift shops.  I will support anyone who supports me by giving readings in the Chicago Metro area.  I have done this over 40 times, and I always sign my books, when asked.  Everyone, positively everyone, asks.  I was amazed, at first, by that.

Individuals who wish to order my books can view the four book covers and see reviews of them at www.FightingWordsPubco.com 

There are links to YouTube and podcasts, as well.  Or, anyone can call me directly at (847) 274-1474.  Googling my name will also produce all kinds of unusual results.  That other Robert M. Katzman, now deceased, whose name will also appear and who also published, was a doctor.  He actually bought one of my books!  Such a nice man.  Rest in peace, Dr. Katzman.

There will be short poems, stories and essays published in this space every two weeks by either myself or my co-blogist Richard G. Munden, or both.  If you find our postings thought provoking, moving or even amusing, please tell others to come view this site.  We will find our strength in your numbers.

 Next year, I will publish my fifth book, a collection of my best poetry and essays, called,

        I Seek the Praise of Ordinary Men

Individuals who know of independent bookstores that might be interested in a rough-hewn guy like me, who ran a chain of newsstands for 20 years in Chicago, please tell them about my books, will you?  I am partial to independent bookstores, having owned two, myself, until my last one was killed by the giant chains, in 1994. I still miss it. 

I’m also looking to find someone who would want to make a play out of some of my stories in the Chicago area, so I could go there and do some readings sometimes.  I think there’s enough honest sex, drugs and rock n’ roll to hold anyone’s interest, as well as a lot of authentic dialogue from ordinary people in extraordinary situations.  I think the plays would work anywhere, frankly, in some intimate theater with talented actors.

The Munden family was awakened before dawn this morning by an explosion in their kitchen. The destruction was devastating. “It will takes weeks to clean this up,” said Mrs. Munden. “We might as well just remodel.”

It appears that this is part of a nationwide assault by a radical Amish group on one of America’s most sacred institutions – the kitchen.

Radical Amish are the last people you would expect of terrorism. For that matter, who ever heard of radical Amish? That is what makes this plot so sinister, no one expects it! And if they refuse to use technology, how can they build such destructive weapons?

Read on to learn how they do it and what you can do to protect yourself. (Read on …)