Coming ‘Round the Bend, Approaching Seventy!…by Robert M. Katzman
By Robert M. Katzman © June 10, 2019
Conceived in mid-July ’49
Born late in April of ’50
Been running hard ever since
Trying to catch up
Born into chaos and diamonds
I somehow chose chaos
And the strong
Sometimes brilliant
Individuals dwelling within it
***************
Rearranging my priorities
Disheveled by design
I never let clothes define the man
If people only perceived
My dog-eared cover
Then maybe they missed
A very good book
*********************
Currently Seeking:
A Firecracker Grandma
With a cherry-bomb kiss
A Sixties chick
With a throbbing pulse
Who thinks Rock ‘n Roll
Is her secondary god
And a burning urge
Not to waste a single minute
***************************
Mountains and valleys
Waterfalls and Islands
Tiny towns on
Skinny roads
Await us
I await you
I offer a gentle caress
Warm kisses under Starlight
As an inducement to stay
Come find me
************************
On religion long ago
I embraced
I comprehended
My People’s traditions
Absorbed the bloody wanderings
Of our Centuries of seeking
But rejected the stranglehold of
Endless and complex ceremony
***********************
All the rules
All the don’t
All the deciding
Whom a man could love
Once threatening me
With social isolation
Should my Love prevail
Over fear of all their threats
What do you think I chose?
**************************
We have no pope
No one is in charge
No one can challenge
My validity as a Jew
My Father Israel
Taught me his hard view
Of Life’s
Most Important Essentials:
*************************
Damn-it Boy!
Show Up!
Back up your friends
Believe in something
Keep your word
Helping others in peril
Will make your life matter
When trouble arises
Run toward it
Not away
Someone has to
Let it be you
**********************
Did I live my life that way?
I didn’t know any other way
Intervening has consequences
Stopping violence
Inspires revenge
Believing everyone’s equal
Can be overwhelmingly
Impossible
To accomplish
A man can lose everything
**************************
In my complicated life
Yes, I did
By choosing to be
On the wrong side of power
I did lose everything
Standing with people
Of other colors
Standing with people
With different sexualities
Makes you one of them
To any who would assault them
********************************
Standing up for other’s rights
Can get you crushed
I was crushed
For a long time
No money
No chances
No choices
Well, screw that
No regrets
********************
Reflecting subsequently
I see my tumultuous life
As a response to
The unforeseen
Adjusting as I learned
What I felt was right
What I felt was wrong
Learning the
Glacial consequences
When deciding to make my stand
Then choosing the losing side
*************************
Conceived in mid-July ’49
Born late in April of ’50
Been running hard ever since
Trying to catch up
Born into chaos and diamonds
I somehow chose chaos
And met a better class of people
For nearly–Seventy–Years
*************************
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 life. 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