I'll be just fine if I stay all mine

He's just the same age now as He was then. Hmm. Have a glass of wine. Have a glass of water. Have a light in the crack under the door.

.

Twenty-two.


I never thought a war would wake me up
From dreams of olive branches by the sea.
I sip black coffee from a bitter cup.

The commandant pontificates, "A-yup,
Now's not the time for dozing. Look at me.
I never thought a war would wake me up."

His minions listen. While they sit to sup
On sweet potatoes and molasses tea,
I sip black coffee from a bitter cup.

His mistress knows at heart he's just a pup
In need of petting. "Woof!" she snarls; then she,
Who never thought a war would wake her up,

Yawns over her pink lady — hic, hiccup! —
And draws him to her bosom drowsily.
I sip black coffee from a bitter cup,

Which runneth over every time I sip.
I'm lost between the letters A and Z.
I never thought a war would wake me up.
I swig black Lethe from a loving cup.


-- James Reiss

.

What I remember about that place is dust.

.

Twenty-two.


Refrain

The air is dark, the night is sad,
I lie sleepless and I groan.
Nobody cares when a man goes mad:
He is sorry, God is glad.
Shadow changes into bone.

Every shadow has a name;
When I think of mine I moan,
I hear rumors of such fame.
Not for pride, but only shame,
Shadow changes into bone.

When I blush I weep for joy,
And laughter drops from me like a stone:
The aging laughter of the boy
To see the ageless dead so coy.
Shadow changes into bone.

-- Allen Ginsburg