Fred Babbin Poems

I think that all higher animals - primates, mammalian and ornithic pets, etc. 'think' to a certain extent.

Why do I think?
There is no alternative.
...

A PHOTO OF AN OLD GRAVE (Courtesy of Danny Reynolds)

This was once
a very grand grave,
...

With Apologies to Oliver Twist and everybody else.

Football, glorious football.
Don't care what it looks like -.
...

Our heating system speaks
but I can't understand the words – yet.
And the the toilet flush sounds like
advertising on TV,
...

There is a rat
I call Depression
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Death be nimble,
Death be quick,
Death blow out
My mortal wick.
...

The neighborhood described in this poem is in the University of Chicago area, as it existed over 60 years ago. Most of it no longer exists, due to one of the first Urban Renewal programs in the United States. The 'Bomb' refers to the atom bomb, of which the University had a large part in the planning. I worked there for a short time. I wanted a picture of that corner for my poem 'Lost', and Ms. Schlesinger kindly sent it to me, so I wrote this poem.

Dear, Dear, Ms. Schlesinger
You are the messenger
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And our lives do indeed do the tango
to the music of God and the Devil.
Our lives dance to their music,
at the basic, vibrational level,
...

Dearest Ruth
You are my Breath
...