I 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
Archive for the ‘Rose’ Category
1984-05-08
Tuesday, May 8th, 19841984-06-01
Friday, June 1st, 1984Mists of time around me, sweeping.— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
A lamp in the moving fog
of some greater darkness, I.
Impressions of progress and decay, fragmented
small glimmers of understanding
against the animal’s short run.
Film spliced, images racing, overlaid
in bursts of light and shadow.
But what cares the screen beneath.
We run unarmed, to battles unwinable
and our love’s the only comfort taken
and our small awarenesses
the only progress made.
Death and pain and dissolution and decay.
We are motes in the vortex of life’s sink.
Our children only a momentary reverse.
Come the mists and darkness, I wait …
weathered and drawn in animal skin
receptive to an unknown God.
Rose and Danny and Chris
and these lines on my face
and those on these papers I’ve traced
these are the only measures I can discern
of what I’ve wrought
in this time and mist and darkness.
gallagher
1 jun 84
Irvine, CA
1984-06-16
Saturday, June 16th, 1984Lise came to dinner with me last night— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —
and I ignited like a bulb
spirit glowed and our eyes echoed each other
She spoke of twice she had felt deep evil
much as Elmer had described long ago
the musician played and enchanted me
and I wrote a poem about Lise and I
She came and we made love
when John had retired
and I learned much about her
from her lovemaking
and remembered Rose
She slept as I read her friend Debbie’s poetry
and then we made love again
cardboard gestures trying to capture
our spirit illuminations, …she left
Risen to work and then lunch
I was drawn to a node with Lynne
and Dave came and was my catalyst
later, as he suggested, I called Lynne
and cleared my Karmic scoreboard
and avoided lying to Rose
Work was depressing so I came home
and I finished Demian by Hesse
and lay down and let myself float
36… and 35’s gone,
and I’m still unfocused
youth’s gone and so, too, the excuse
that I have much time to learn
Cardboard lovers, lies, alcohol, dissipation
memories of Canada and mountains and blue skies
the wind from my patio
blows cool and pensive.
gallagher
16 Jun 84
Irvine, CA