Different Slants

A Man and His Dog Awaiting the Blizzard of 2019  
by Robert M. Katzman © January 27, 2019

I went out to walk my tiny dog Max at 12:15 AM
And I saw the big snow storm moving in
I have been battening down the hatches
As the snowflakes are starting to fall harder

***

The long fitted cover to protect my old car 
Was flapping, blowing off in the wind
I weighed it down with logs from my fireplace supply
The pile of logs were frozen together
I found a stray one and beat on them 
And beat on them until they broke free

***
Moving quickly so the frozen air 
Won’t freeze my old face
I placed some logs on the old car’s roof
Some on the front hood
Some on the top of the trunk
All with the round part facing the wind
So they maybe won’t blow off
I have to protect my ancient Toyota

***
Still not enough to secure the tarp, 
I dragged the big garbage container 
Over to the side of the car
To box the tarp in, hoping the wind blows around it
I can hear the wind blowing loudly
I can see the snow swirling off of my garage roof
The big snowblower is in the garage 
And it will stay there

***
The snow will fall all night 
The wind will make of it what it will
Foolish futile gestures can be deadly
If the power fails, I have many fat candles
They will bring light and a little heat, too
Max and I will wait in our 1957 yellow brick house
All these words may be an old soul’s poetry 
But I am frightened nevertheless

***
Only a fool underestimates the strength of his enemy
The massive snow cloud is as wide as Iowa
Flowing as fast as the roaring wind takes it
It will freeze over the long Lake tomorrow
Leaving wreckage behind it in Wisconsin
Poor Michigan is next
Cars will smash, trees will topple
Semi-trailers will spin out and over 
On the hopeless defenseless  
Interstate Highways snaking into the black distance

***
Some day, one day in the future
Younger people will talk of this giant angry Blizzard of 2019
Like we older people still talk of the Blizzard of January 27, 1967
On this same day in January 52 years ago
A fierce legend of nature unleashed, awaiting birth
Max and I shiver, not from the cold
And together, now we must wait

********************************

Publishing News! 

Bob Katzman’s two new true Chicago books are now for sale, from him!
Vol. One: A Savage Heart  and Vol. Two: Fighting Words

Gritty, violent, friendship, classic American entrepreneurship love, death, heartbreak and the real dirt about surviving in a completely corrupt major city under the Chicago Machine. More history and about one man’s life than a person may imagine.

Please visit my new website: https://www.dontgoquietlypress.com
If a person doesn’t want to use PayPaI, I also have a PO Box & I ship anywhere in America.

Send me a money order with your return and contact info.
I will get your books to you within ten days.
Here’s complete information on how to buy my books:

Vol 1: A Savage Heart and Vol. 2: Fighting Words
My books weigh almost 2 pounds each, with about 525 pages each and there are a total together of 79 stories and story/poems.

Robert M. Katzman
Don’t Go Quietly Press
PO Box 44287
Racine, Wis. 53404-9998                                                                                                                    (262)752-3333, 8AM-7PM

Books cost $29.95 each, plus shipping

For: (1)$3.95; (2)$5.95; (3)$7.95; (4)$8.95 (5)$9.95;(6) $10.95

(7) $11.95; (8) $12.95; (9)$13.95 (10)$15.95 (15)$19.95

Shipping by air to most of Europe, due to the weight of my books is $99.00

I am also for hire if anyone wants me to read my work and answer questions in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. Schools should call me for quantity discounts for 30 or more books. Also: businesses, bookstores, private organizations or churches and so on.

My Fighting Words Publishing Co. four original books, published between 2004 and 2007 are now out-of-print. I still have some left and will periodically offer them for sale on my new website.  My hour-long story reading at WGTD 91.1 NPR Kenosha, Wis is now a podcast. The interview and story can be heard here: 

Speaking of Our Words – June 30th, 2017 With special guest star and featured writer Bob Katzman. Bob reads his memoir, “Audrey, Pink Bunny Slippers, Her Cat and the God’s Eye” and talks about his wife.¦   Your comments are welcome, below, and please tell others I can be found here as a writer. I can also be hired as a speaker for organizations, etc, both here and in Europe. Seeking an agent.robertmkatzman@gmail.com Poet & Storyteller for hire for organizations, schools or private events   www.DifferentSlants.com to view recent and older examples of my work

847.274.1474     Attachments area  

Preview YouTube video Speaking of Our Words June 30th, 2017

Speaking of Our Words June 30th, 2017