Four-Foot-Tall Genius
Bored on a Saturday before his plastic toons
he picked up the ancient phonebook
seeking names of those he might meet
mysteries of realities hidden in unknown pasts
parallel universes made of imaginations
worlds born of so many fertile minds.
What questions the mischievous grin
would foster to the metamorphosed Gregor
European trapped in the routine the boy fears so
that it may too transform him into the unknown
monster made of cubicle and nine-to-fives
boarding a train to too many nowheres.
It is easy to imagine him pondering the facts
as he visits with the next victim on his list
ready to formulate another query
so he may return home with his answers
to the sense he could make of this existence
at the hands of a man whose home is below ground.
Man, mouse, or worm, the young explorer
will find it amusing that he resembles
a frightening teacher in her decades-old glasses
sometimes reptilian holding an antiquated iPad
seeking a life in the lowest depths
to be humiliated by the charming prostitute.
What will the little rascal say when he faces
the Norwegian prima Dona who dreams
of the glorious death of the valiant knight
so long as she can be its provocateur
surrounded by luxuries very few enjoy
in the name of suffering she can only imagine.
At least he has his large furry friend
to find refuge from the oddities of the world
outside the realm of his childish den
forget what insanities grown-ups fathom
he only understands the questions the kid asks
for indeed he has the answers to all the secrets of this life.
Kid
He acts tough when he says hello
so early in the day as she is off
to another school day.
A few pancakes, a glass of juice
and the ritualistic hug
as he sips on his favourite brew.
She smiles with the power of her eight-years
the colourful bag on her back
glad just to know he is hers.
He too will ride to his daily duties
a vast office on a top floor
made of steel and glass.
A quick lunch stolen amidst unending
meetings of too many strangers;
he only thinks of her.
An eternity will pass before dinner
her favourite TV show and
her eyes of green growing heavy.
His perfect moment when she dozes off
her head in her lap, his fingers in her blond strands
and the dreams he can only fancy.
His little woman, delight of his days
what a beautiful girl she will always be
warm and peaceful in his arms.
Plus Sizes, Blood Pressure, and Diabetes.
…and there are so many more
important facets of their everyday going-ons
to prepare for with every moment
in the company of every acquaintance.
The solitary wanderer cannot escape the diatribes
of unsuspecting companions as they vent
details of daily lives they all know too well
made of Dr's visits and medication dispensers.
Ageless they seem in the excitement of their teens
walking in the twilight of a well-deserved retirement
the so-called golden years spent in the sunshine
of restful days a few days short of a terminal winter.
All listen to the same advice, partake in similar prescriptions
so they may enjoy another excursion on a crowded bus
before it is too late, even to contemplate a Grand Canyon
without an oxygen tank wheeling on a steel chair.
A novel in his hand, the loner continues his journey
his soul echoing with the names of unknown ailments,
high blood pressure and newly discovered remedies
questioning why it is not of life they discuss.
The last siren
Shrieking to the sleeper’s tympanum
the dog howls in unison with
the last siren of the night somewhere
south of 2 am.
It follows the furious roar of the freight train
all the way to another catastrophe
of mangled rails tainted with a strange
paint like crimson asphalt.
The dog whimpers for a moment
it looks to the left, the right, attempts
to detect the scent of a life hanging
there, between ground and heavens.
Ambulances, fire Marshalls, sheriffs, and troopers
they form a crowd about the scene
too late to release a breath into the
characters of the newest tragedies.
Tis the way we live by the tolling bells
going through doors to eternity
perhaps the canine knows something
about the numbered days of his human pal.
But the body sleeps in the midst of the common din
dreaming of handsome landscapes far away
he may hope for the rescue the flashing lights
blue and red will undoubtedly provide him.
Truly
I have walked thousands of miles
around your aura.
never tiring of the automated motion;
I may wear limbs to mere memories.
Led by the great power of the
divine omniscience.
I will keep on the path to
the end times.
Taught by the omnipotent infinity
I will shed this flesh to release
the love God has for you.
Humbled by the glory of your being
my body longs to sublime.
you may be divinity incarnate unsuspecting
of your highest purpose.
Thus, looking to unfathomable horizons
I will never fear another step forward;
you are the end of the journey
where my soul has found eternal rest.
Fabrice B. Poussin's poetry and photography work has appeared in hundreds of magazines worldwide. Most recently, his collections In Absentia, If I Had a Gun, Half Past Life, and The Temptation of Silence were published in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, by Silver Bow Publishing.
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