by Bill Yarrow
you in Gurnee
watching the attacks
on television
I in Seville
the plaza filled with scourges
in the hands of hooded men
you in the sun room
contemplating the clematis
as it climbs the garage
I opposite the bright cathedral
contemplating God
in all His disguises
one day I will take you to Grenada
and you will see
how beautiful the Alhambra is
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51 words
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A version of this poem appeared in Chicago Literati.
This poem appears in Incompetent Translations and Inept Haiku (Cervena Barva Press 2013) and Blasphemer (Lit Fest Press 2015).
Yes.
Great sense of I / thou. I like the hope in the closing stanza. Good poem, Bill.
Nice richness in this, in under 50 words. *
A great poem for 9/11. Good work.
I'll have to look up Chicago Literati.
God in all his disguises indeed. *
"opposite the bright cathedral/contemplating God/in all His disguises"
Favorite stanza.
Thanks, James, Sam, Chistian, Daniel, Con, and Jake for your comments and support of this poem, which despite its seeming relevance today to the anniversary of the attacks on 9/11/2001, actually dates back to 1974, a time of despicable terrorist attacks as well.
Thanks, Amanda!
Oh yes, Bill. 'You' nailed this! Please take me to Grenada! Def Fave.
Enjoyed this.
Really enjoyed this, Bill. I at first mistook the "I" as a roman numeral, but that was easily overcome. Beautiful writing. *
Like Foster, I thought I was a Roman Numeral. The darn limitations of the FN font! Still, once my dumbscull facilities got out of my way, I loved this poem!
Fave.
Loved your comments Myra, Gary, Fos, and Robert. Thank you!
("I" does look like a Roman numeral!)
"contemplating God
in all His disguises"----Love this so much....FAV----Pax, Amy
Oh I love the close of this. It's such a quiet calm piece.
*
Wonderful last line
Something else, really dug this one. The way it sounds read out loud, the way it lays on the page. The many meanings. Right on. *
Thank you, Amy, Michelle, P.R., and Bud. I really appreciate your reads and responses.
Love pours from this fine poem, Bill.
A beautiful, much needed, human poem. Thank you for writing such a fine thing.
Hell of a poem Bill! Dates back to '74? You'd never know it. It holds up as timeless.*
Thank you, Nonnie, Darryl, and Michael! Your comments are extremely gratifying.
It reads so beautifully, it ju/st flows. *
i like the ending best. Nice job!
Thank you, Charlotte and Jodi! Great to hear from you both.
Made from stone, this one, sculpted and so clearly given a craftsman's attention.
Great comment and much appreciated. Thanks, Sheldon!
It took me to Granada a little. Nice.
Thanks, Steven!
Well crafted, with a nice lift at the end.*
Thanks, Gary!