Friday, January 29, 2016

CHICAGO STORY


I remember loving all the gray snow,
fearing the homeless on Howard
Street, and liking the free hot soup
at Good News soup kitchen.
It was one of the oddest dates
I'd ever been on, and you were
one of the most beautiful men
I'd ever slept with. Was it on a
Wednesday? When you sat down
beside me at the small Art Deco
bar in Rogers Park? Everybody
watching Dynasty, and I pretended
not to notice you as I worked on a
dark poem about lust and suicide.

Then you bought me a beer, and
I soon found out you were a
collector of rare German coins
and broken hearts. Two hours later
I was in your unmade bed, and what
we did to each other was so good
and natural, we became lovers
without ever having to say the word.
And when you showed me all your
gold and silver coins before I went
home, then invited me to have
dinner with you at a soup kitchen
that night, I thought you just might
be the oddest man I'd ever known.

So I had to say yes, and there
would be many more strange and
beautiful nights of poverty and
passion - rare coins and soup
kitchens - until you got sick
and drifted away in a terrible fog.
And all I remember is
loving the gray snow,
fearing the homeless
on Howard Street,
and wanting to lose
myself forever in your
deep dark kiss
like the Baltic sea.

Poem © 2016 by Dylan Mitchell

Thursday, January 21, 2016

WHEN NIGHT IS ALL I KNOW


When there is no light to see
I shut my eyes
open my ears
hear the grasses softly swaying
like dancers in a beautiful ballet

When there's nothing but blackness
I close my mouth
breathe in, breathe out
smell the rich garden
beneath my open window

When darkness is my only friend
I lift my arms
relax my hands
let my fingers touch
a sweet stranger's face

When night is all I know
I stop reaching for the sun
take off my proper hat
give my long hair to the wind
happy to be alive in the bright moonlight


Poem © 2016 by Dylan Mitchell

Sunday, January 17, 2016

MY FAMOUS DOLLAR TREE MOP...


Yes, you really can buy a mop for a dollar. I know this because Roy bought me one a few months ago, and I've been using it like a madman. Apart from the handle being a foot shorter than a "normal" mop, it gets the job done just as well as its taller cousin.

Since I was at Safeway yesterday, I decided to do a hasty price comparison. The cheapest mop to be had was twelve times more expensive! Alas, there is no Dollar Tree store near my apartment building, so I guess I'll continue to spend twelve times more for everything I need to survive, and somehow learn to suffer Safeway gladly.

My new and improved idea of heaven is finding a cheap apartment across the street from a Dollar Tree. I'll start praying tonight...

Sunday, January 10, 2016

I NEED THESE BOOTS! YESTERDAY!


I almost broke my neck walking (more like hiking) back from Safeway at least three times so far this year. Safeway, huh. Isn't it a bit ironic? Anyway, the boots are more than $100, so that's out of the question.

Tried to find a memorable song about boots to make my tale of woe more uplifting. It just doesn't get much better than Nancy Sinatra :-)

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

BRIGHT FLOWER


Give me not fame or fortune;
those I only wanted when I was young.

Now I humbly seek the scent of  a
rose in full bloom. I remember you

leaning over the steel hospital bed to
tell me you could not see the bright 

flower I brought to you each Saturday
night. And how sad it was that you could

no longer taste food or drink. Kevin,
I think of you each time I sit down to

Saturday supper alone. And wish you were
still here, to taste the warm goodness.

And see and smell the bright red rose in all its
glory on a splendid Saturday night.

I will never forget.

Poetry © 2016 by Dylan Mitchell

JONI MITCHELL: WOODSTOCK (LIVE PERFORMANCE)


Saturday, January 2, 2016