Max Reif Poems

Everywhere,
feet upon the same earth,
like the bases of trees
going down to deep roots,
...

The miner works
the deep, dark earth,
far down a long, thin shaft,
...

The bee goes for the nectar,
diving to the center of the flower,
madly drinking all he can devour,
...

I hold the steering wheel
of the car in my hands,
I hold the world,
...

Drove down to Mountain View this morning
to check up on my investment
of time, and a little money,
in the Google octopus.
...

Don't you know your mind's a radio,
Playing back the frequencies
That you imbibe all day?
...

Oh, words,
you were empty vessels
grazing on virgin hillsides,
transparent to the sun.
...

The cough-spasms linger,
the illness lingers
and secretly I'm glad it lingers
because I need a parenthesis
...

Worms are the Christ
of small children,
who love to pull
fat, wriggling things
...

Years ago she broke up with me.
I wanted to be a hero and get her back,
even though she was hot
for our bearded, beatnik best friend
...