It’s Because Jesus Is Angry With Me
my car is always breaking down
during the holidays.
"this is because Jesus is angry with you" she said.
"you are probably right" I said.
as others walk around self-assured
in their good standing with God
I worry about my soul on a daily basis.
I really do wonder if my car breaking down
during the holidays is a message from God
on the state of my soul: broken down,
out of commission, in one piece, but unable
to transport me from one place to another.
I really wonder if my car breaking down
during the holidays is a wake up call from God
to get fixed, to get a tune up, to stop neglecting
my responsibility as a child of God.
hmm, is God that practical to do such a thing?
or am I just paranoid and self-absorbed?
- Mike Meraz
(featured in the poetry forum 11.04.11)
editor's note: I can manage the car through my local mechanic. But, mechanics for the soul; that's another issue - where to find a good shop for repairs? - mh
A Life Without Love
a life without love.
not many friends.
my family sticks by me
but family love only goes so far.
this is the meat and potatoes of love
but meat and potatoes is boring.
I want gourmet with fine wine,
with all the trimmings.
I want dessert,
not just vanilla ice cream
but a hot fudge sundae
topped with peanuts.
I want the cherry on top.
I want the excitement of love.
I want the beautiful girl
with olive skin
walking across my room
in a black satin dress,
telling me,
"it stinks in here,"
as I pour her a glass of 85
Chardonnay.
- Mike Meraz
(featured in the poetry forum 09.18.11)
Wisdom Exists On Kitchen Counters
wisdom exists on kitchen counters
when your mother puts a taco
into hot grease and says,
"you should always tell the truth."
wisdom exists underneath old cars
when your father hands you
a crescent wrench and says,
"there is no time for pain."
wisdom exists in grocery store
backrooms while your co-worker
pushes a pallet-jack and says,
"pretty ain't nothin' but a headache."
wisdom exists in old houses
in South Central as your grandmother
pours you a glass of grape juice and says,
"always be yourself."
wisdom exists in bathrooms,
in laundry rooms,
in garages,
and in parked cars.
pure untainted wisdom exists
in the cracks, the corners,
the secret places
of the earth.
- Mike Meraz
(featured in the poetry forum 09.15.10)
When I Am Dead
when I am dead
I want to be
read
by you
not the professors
not the scholars
but you...
my
lonely
girl.
- Mike Meraz
(added 09.15.10)
Breadcrumbs
it became too muddled
too ego centered
rather than heart felt.
I promise not to go that way.
I promise to stay at home
and not head to the big city.
in “sophistication” we think
the heart and things to do with the heart
are silly and pointless.
but ah, friend, these are the things that really matter,
that give hope, that take away the sting of the vicious
businessman, or the opportunist pig.
so bring back the sunset, bring back the open road
bring back sprawling on the living room floor
writing poetry and drawing pictures.
bring back the innocence of the dream and the optimism
of making a difference.
- Mike Meraz
(featured in the poetry forum 11.05.09)
Life In New Orleans
in New Orleans
there is just a little more butter
in everything
the food is richer
the music louder
the women more cunning and voluptuous
the lifestyle more reckless and out of control.
in New Orleans
there is just a little more butter in everything.
this being
the condoms are thicker
the streets meaner
the suicide rates higher
the hospital visits soaring
the cops more jaded.
I once saw one hustling a crack addict
for a hundred dollar bill.
this is life in New Orlins‘…
- Mike Meraz
(added 08.04.09)
The Understanding Boyfriend
when she began to emotionally cheat on me
we would take walks in the park
and she would talk to her "other" on her cell.
I was an understanding boyfriend
because love is love and usually I am happy
on my own but it did not take away the sting.
my ambivalence is unique because often times
things don't register til later.
I would sit a few yards away on the grass
writing poetry and she would be jizzing on a park bench
talking about statues and inscripted stones.
"desire can drive you mad" she would say.
I can only imagine him on the other end agreeing.
I was not it, I was reduced to a dog on a walk.
"let's go," she would say.
I'd get up knowing my day would come.
yesterday she called me back.
said it was not working between them.
I barked three times and hung up.
- Mike Meraz
(featured in the poetry forum 08.04.09)
I Write
fine, look...
here is the curse of all curses.
when a woman begins to feel sorry for you,
that is the worst.
this is what she told me with tears
running down her face:
"your head is full of dread and I feel it.
you hold it all in and it explodes out
on people who don't deserve it."
"I'm sorry," I said, "I'm not angry with you, it's just..."
"I know," she said, "when I was young
I had many troubles, but you can't just fall in love
with every woman who shows you affection."
"why not?" I asked.
"you need to go out and have a good time.
you are handsome, you look good, go out
and have a good time. don't be so sad."
"it does not matter," I said as I pointed to my face.
tears ran down hers.
"I worry about you," she said, "you think too much."
"I know," I said, "but I can't change who I am."
"but I worry about you," she said.
"I write," I said.
"I know," she said, "you told me,
but you need to talk to people."
"I write," I said.
"I know," she said, "you told me."
- Mike Meraz
(added 08.04.09) |
