Poetry is hard to read because— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
the meanings of many of the words used
are not the first meanings
which come to mind
If the effort used to make the mix
was born only of puzzle making drives
then the effort to decode it
could never be worth it
But if the poet plays
on those lower registers
only as he needs for accuracy
then let him play on
for how else could
the thought be rendered
gallagher
8 may 84
Irvine
Archive for May, 1984
1984-05-08
Tuesday, May 8th, 19841984-05-08
Tuesday, May 8th, 1984I think depth must go more from age— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
because its hard to believe it goes from lack of courage
but, as I grow older and experience less depth,
I wonder if its they or I.
I bring my sword to bear on the solitary pages of my life now
because there’s no one else to play
or, no one judges me fit to play.
Because I love Rose and the wild naked fear
no longer shows in my eyes?
more the lack of opportunity than challenge, he…
Because God’s handing out my Karma … for free?
and what I’m looking for, I’m not supposed to see.
gallagher
may 8, 1984
irvine, ca
1984-05-13
Sunday, May 13th, 1984I used to think that the Bible— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
was just the early gropings of man for understanding
The best of men with few facts
and an intense yearning and tradition
And so the Bhagavagita and the Koran
rumor and insight, tradition and learning
In a time before logic or relativeness
generations and social fabrics piled on each other
Written traditions tumbling forward
thru drifting interpretations and Jihads
But now I see it in another light
Not primitive gropings but benign seedlings
compassion beyond comprehension, the parent and the child
The hand of guidance as our fathers could understand
dropped like birds of peace into our savage birth
I pray reincarnation is a true doctrine
How else could we bear our love and truth
at once?
gallagher
13 may 84
irvine