Michael Sharkey Poems

Hit Title Date Added
1.
The Paradise Flick

How do we know Eve and Adam were happy,
deprived, as they were, of a childhood?

Eve never knew, unlike Adam, a world
that was free of the chatter of others.'
...

2.
Imaginary Countries: The Real World

In the real world
lovers part at morning with a kiss
and look back longingly
before they pass from sight.
...

3.
The Good Life When It Happens

Postcards from museums make it seem that you exist,
but never here.

I thought I saw you going undercover
years ago: the scent of lucerne, freshly mowed
hung in the orchard where I walked to pilfer limes.
...

4.
Eating Sin

A man began to eat his order of fish, and the ghost of the fish arose and spoke. Forgive me, it said, please hear me. I died in despair,
...

5.
Without You

In each photograph I see
what captured me
when I first looked at you
and saw
...

6.
Look, he said

Look, he said,
I've been writing stuff for the past four years
& I've done about six hundred poems
& all I can manage is get them in the local
...

7.
History

The beautiful girl on the bus
wears a jacket that comes from a sheep
that was raised on a farm
...

8.
Defamiliarization

When it came through the door
I knew what it was.

'I'll have that,' it said,
...

9.
After Cavafy

When I was twelve the undertaker came up
from the corner: 'Something special, come and see.'

The corpse was Italian,
...

10.
Get Age

You too can have flaking skin,
lank hair and
trembling hands and
glassy eyes
...

Close
Error Success