The Poems
Never More Right
by John Yamrus
she talks of the time
when she was
young and there was
a suicide down the street.
he did it
in the garage
and she can still
remember the blood
running under the door.
she doesn’t mention
doctors,
or
cops,
or even the worms
that waited.
________________________________
pancreatic cancer
has a way
of leveling the field.
she fought it
for three long years.
in the end,
it cut her down,
and there was
nothing else
to say.
________________________________
he put my book
down on his desk
and said:
i can’t seem
to call
the
stuff
you write
poetry.
i don’t know
what it is,
but it’s just not
poetry.
he
was
never
more
right
in
his
life.
________________________________
they stopped
asking
me to come to
their open mic nights.
i couldn’t
bring myself to
tell them
it bores the shit out of me to
hear “poets” read.
every time they’d ask
i’d make excuses.
i always had
some other plans,
even if they asked
weeks ahead.
they finally
stopped.
it’s good that way.
and quiet.
and, somehow
fitting:
they’ve got
their poems,
and i’ve got
mine.
Since 1970 John Yamrus has published 2 novels and 19 volumes of poetry. He has also had more than 1,400 poems published in print magazines around the world. His work regularly appears in translation. His most recent book of poems is They Never Told Me This Would Happen.
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Tags: John Yamrus, poems, poetry
Comments (4)
WJoseph Stegner, Jr.
October 11th, 2012 at 3:19 PM
I hear you on the poetry 'readings.' The only thing more boring than reading, is watching another do the same. Even the most profound words lose power when not delivered with eye contact, or theatrical performance. I think the best respect to give an audience is to care enough to memorize what is written. If it's not worth the author remembering, why should an audience?
Elena Irving
October 11th, 2012 at 7:21 PM
I agree about the boring part listening to poets drone on.. So it was especially great listening to Jack Grapes read his poetry last Sunday at Beyond Baroque. His poetry is not only profound but delivered by the accomplished actor he is. Jock and the audience shared one spirit as we laughed with him in the funny parts, felt his pain in the sad parts and cried with him when he had the sniffles and wiped his eyes reading passages about loving his wife and child.
Alexis Rhone Fancher
October 12th, 2012 at 4:50 AM
Such a pleasure to read John Yamrus' s poems. Wry. Spare. Deceptively simple. And always terrific.
W Joseph Stegner, Jr
December 27th, 2012 at 12:58 AM
Hello, John. In response to your facebook inquiry, yes, I am the WJS Jr. of the post above. I enjoyed your poem, and will look for more. Here is a poem I wrote for a poet who was having trouble connecting with the audience. Sadly, i was surprised how offended some of the poets got when I performed it. I'd rather recite poetry where it's not expected…
When You Can’t See the Eyes.
However wise your words may be,
however true each rhyme you state,
if your eyes are looking down,
there is no flavor on the plate.
More boring than reading itself
is watching another do the same.
Why deprive an audience
of the glory of your name?
“The eyes are the windows to the soul.”
We’ve heard it all our lives.
If you have to read your own work,
you deprive how the best image thrives.
WJ Stegner
November 11, 2009
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