Steel-Belted Liberation…by Robert M. Katzman
August 20, 2011
Sunrise
Rays dancing on my Soldered Lids
My fragile spine a Gordian Knot
Takes an hour of contortions
To give my body back to me
To beat unstoppable Time
That Posse that pursues me
Through the Night
Into the Dawn
God,
Give me
One-more-day
***
Falling out of bed
I escape the Darkness
And for one more day
That choice is mine
****
Awake and Naked
Icy water on my face
I wince into the Mirror
Who the Hell is that?
***
Worn jeans hang lifeless
On a peg on a wall
Waiting for me
Like a patient Hound
Awaiting my touch
I slide into them
Shape matching Shape
The Uniform of the Unregimented
***
Outside, drenched in Dew
My ancient van awaits me
Older than all my grandchildren
Put together
It dozes
Silent in repose
***
The dull key in my hand
Unlocks more than a door
It unleashes that Spark that unites us
Melds us
The big motor rumbles!
Grumbles!
***
I click on the Radio
The wide dial like Beckoning Beauties
Stretched out in a Line
“Choose me!”
“Choose me!”
They cry
Temptresses of Sound
I choose my Poison
Rhythm and Blues
Electrifying the Air
***
My morning brew nests
In a holder on the floor
Close to my hand
Steaming
***
A boiling Quart
Four tea bags
Unpremeditated Sugar
Swirling together
To put my pulse in gear
And my Heart in the Fast Lane
***
Horses under the Hood?
Oh, man, not merely Horses!
Painted Apaches riding bareback into Battle
Spanish Mustangs racing for the open plains
Untethered and Free
Mounted Knights in Black Steel
Thundering toward each other
Lances aimed at each other’s hearts
Oh, Jesus! ”I am all that
When my motor roars to life
And then, I go
***
1950’s Rockers synthesizing my overdrafts
Defiant songs of Dead Singers
Overtaking my obligations
Disappearing in my rearview mirror
Their Treble an Opiate
Chasing Shadows from my mind
The booming Bass coursing through my body
Reminding me of other pleasures
***
My nimble fingers
Conduct
The Orchestra of the Wind
Rampaging past my Ride
***
An Engine that Ignites
A Transmission that Engages
Four Steel-Belted Tires &
A Full Tank of Gas
***
I am Man joined with Machine
Invincible–and so much more
Than the Sum of our
Rusty Parts
***
We Mesh
We Move
We are Synchronized
Hey, Moron!!
Blocking my Open Road:
Get
The Hell
Out
Of
My
Way
!!!
***
I am going Nowhere
Making excellent time
So happy
So complete
In my pointlessness
&
Racing toward my Horizon
**********************************
(As of April 10, 2017, this part below about my store is no longer true, but I left it as an artifact of my earlier life)
About the writer and his other life in Skokie, Illinois:
Bob Katzman’s Magazine Museum:
100,000 periodicals back to 1576!
Wall of Rock: 50 years of cool Rock periodicals on display & for sale
4906 Oakton St. (8000 north and 4900 west) Skokie, Ill 60077
(262) 752-3333 Mon-Fri: 10 am to 5 pm / Weekends: 10 am to 2 pm
Katzman’s Publishing Company site: www.FightingWordsPubco.com
Katzman’s online non-fiction stories: www.DifferentSlants.com
Poetry? For me, writing poetry is not an option.
It’s a response to emotion. Like cigarette smoke,
it’s fast-flowing, shapeless and with little time to capture it.
Writing poetry in an imperative. I say what I feel compelled to say.
Fast, reliable service. Read my stories and see what you think.
I’m also available for hire to read my true Chicago stories to organizations
and answer all questions. I autograph my books when I sell them.
I am currently seeking an agent to do more readings.
Feel free to call me at the number above.