bill costley Poems

Paid mercenaries play cards.

People risking death play spades.
...

Firearms
spew gun-addicts'
ka-powered fears.
...

If you were to ask me:
What have I achieved
as a poet? I'd answer:
...

to a baptism, to your child's
first grammar-school play,
to a first holy communion,
to a confirmation, to a wedding,
...

Ne portez pas d'arme
à un baptême, au gala
de l'école primaire de votre enfant,
à une première communion
...

Ne prenez pas d'arme 'a feu pour aller
Aun bapteme, 'a la premiere piece de theatre
de votre enfant au lyce'e
A une confirmation, a un mariage
...

the body
burns slowly
for a lifetime,
extinguishing
...

In the cool of the evening
of naieve-nationalist 4th
rumbling vollies explode

not far enuf from my windows,
...

Most of my adult life
I assumed I was progressing.

Now they're saying 'going forwards'
...

Embargoed by their families,
leaving me bereft,
reduced to memories
or accidental encounters
...