Bio: John Drudge
is a social worker working in the field of disability management and holds
degrees in social work, rehabilitation services, and psychology. He is the
author of three books of poetry: “March” and “The Seasons of Us” (both
published in 2019) and “New Days” (published in 2020). His work has appeared
widely in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies
internationally. John is also a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee and
lives in Caledon Ontario, Canada with his wife and two children.
Summer in Paris
Beneath
The zinc
covered roofs
Of the 6th
We
shuffle aimlessly
Past yet
another
Vociferous
manif
Chanting
in solidarity
In the
face of some injustice
Somewhere
The ever
present consequence
Of fine
weather in Paris
Over to
the bookstore
By the
river
Across
from Notre Dame
To buy
something good
To read
In the
quietness
Of our
favourite park
No Shelter
From the cold evening
Into the morning
With the gloom
Kissing wind
Across the frozen dew
Shattered
And staggering
Blocking the elements
In doorways
Walking the boulevard
With nowhere left to go
And nothing else to do
Wandering
In cages of freedom
Aimlessly
On the outside
Looking in
Through pinholes
In the corners
Of our silence
A Wonderful City
to Die In
In the mirage of night
Beneath frozen stars
In the silence
Of my steps
With the barkeeps
Closing up
And the taxis
Turning off for the night
I make my way
To the small garden
Behind the old grey church
Sitting in the stillness
Of the neighborhood’s
Collective slumber
With everything calm
Beneath a gentle moon
Thinking about
The lower depths
Of my regrets
As the light
In a second story window
Across the street
Turns to black
And I sink low
In my collar
Against the growing cold
And wait
Direct and impressionistic
ReplyDeleteThe scenes are evoked so clearly. I can feel the energy of the v demonstration and the solitary night air of the garden.
ReplyDeleteGreat imagerg I could really feel these. Thanks
ReplyDelete