Three Poems by Paul Smith

 

Simon Says 

 

The night can’t be trusted

the night will tell you

what it thinks you want to hear

confirming what you

already know

You can trust a kid, though

she will tell you

you are fat

you are a liar

you cheat at cards

then her words are gone

unnecessary

for Tag or Jacks

and so are yours

all of them

disappearing at darkness

like whippoorwills

                                                                                                           

 

What Is Winter Anyway 

 

Winter is the universe at night

When galaxies and constellations

Stop twinkling

Turn down their lights

Rest

And dream their dreams

Summer has been bright and exhausting

Cities hopping with intoxicated glee

Townhouse parties swinging with calypso and jazz

Voices sizzling with pizazz

Now it is time for Creation to

Snooze awhile and dream

Of cities snoring symphonies

Voices low enough

To melt anger below

And turn it

Into butterscotch

Rooftops watch parks full of children

Afraid of nothing

Not even the winter dark

Where the stars plot and blink

The planets hope

The cosmos weeps

And the universe keeps

Its fingers crossed

                                                                                                                               

The Smart-Sneaky Look

 

Most of the people I know

say they never

think of it

why?

are they ashamed?

 

The same people who say

they don’t think about it

also claim they don’t have any

how can you say that?

to live is to have them

I have plenty

what’s the big deal?

 

Then there is this whole business

of looking over your shoulder

like Lot’s wife

and getting turned into

a pillow of salt

nobody says they do that

not even Lot

who was said to be a very

sound sleeper

existentialists far and wide have

recommended to not

look over your shoulder

and no one listens

 

I once had a book

How To Play Hockey

and it spoke of the

dumb look

looking at the puck while you

handle it

and then getting creamed by a

defenseman who knows

you can’t see him coming

then there is the smart look

looking up so you can see anyone

trying to check you and

having enough confidence in

your stick to handle the puck

without looking

and finally, the book spoke

of the smart-sneaky look

looking down so defensemen

think you can’t see them coming

but keeping your eyes up so

you see them and avoid getting

slammed into the boards

the book advocated adopting the

smart-sneaky look

so do I

so if anyone asks me

do I think about it

or do I have any

or do I look back

my answer is always

NO

but sometimes I cheat

 

By Paul Smith