I Wear My Mask

$12.00

poems by R.E.L.

Size:  6 x 9
No. Pages:  138
Published:  2021
ISBN:  2370000886514

SKU: PB1128 Categories: , Tag:

Description

R.E.L. presents his first published full-color book including 120 poems and 16 illustrations. A self-taught poet/artist, he draws upon his life experience to reflect on the virtues and struggles of everyday life.

certain hungers

I walk the night
deep beneath the bright of day
in search of certain hungers
tugging at the edges of disquiet
recalling names and instances
soft furry creatures
peeking thru the pungent dark.
I listen to the slapping sounds of shadows
in hopes of warmth, a pulse
in which to share … the nothing,
cupping moonlight in my hand
a hazy, mystic eye, eerie antidote
to barren, permafrost lives
prowling the scriptures of desire –
my blood is up, instincts on fire
a beast of letters,
I want to write,
more than I need to breathe.

About the Author

R.E.L., proud father, grateful husband, son of Polish immigrants, graduated high school in 1968, served in the Illinois National Guard, and like so many other “ordinary” men, immersed himself in the daily rituals of raising his family. His is a blue collar resume: rail worker, yardmaster, order coordinator, etc.

A self-taught poet/artist, he draws upon his life experience to reflect on the virtues and struggles of everyday life.

Excerpt

.. the world has gone “ batty ” …

I’m going to build
a fort of flowers
thorny roses as a gate
weave a fence of lilies
to fend off all the hate
hide among the hyacinths
crowds of tulips as my friends
walk amidst the daisies
and chat with all the ferns
I’ll plant a bed of sweet-peas
share them with the bees
rows of sunflowers
to tempt those butterflies
and a glorious fountain
for every manner of bird
oh, wait …
sorry, no crows !