Monday, November 23, 2015

Indifferent Light

Indifferent Light
--for Mr. Perry


One summer day at Silver Beach,
the sky dull, the sea abandoned,
dim as dusk he comes, the old man.


Once he salvaged lawn chairs,
repaired and sold beside the road:
please deposit fair amount.
Now, it's cans.


Alone along the breakwater,
oblivious to lines of bees,
he searches barrels, savors refuse,
nickles on his mind.


Wind blows his faded shirt.
Rain threatens his hunched back.
Sack full, barrel empty,
he lifts his head, he turns to see


a flash sear the troposphere,
outline violet the edge of cloud,
illuminate with its indifferent light.


I am working on another 28 poem chapbook titled "Indifferent Light."  This is an old poem from my Cape Cod days.  Mr. Perry lived in the garage of the house I rented.  He owned the house but rented it out for income. He had two ancient dogs, Snowball and Pwincess, who loved to chase my cats.




11 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

This seems like a sad poem to me. I can just see the little old fellow out collecting cans.

sukipoet said...

Well he was a sort of sad character. He lived in the garage, it had a toilet but no shower. It did have a kitchen sink. They charged me $300 per month rent for twenty years.!

Mystic Meandering said...

Your poem is so full of reality, Suki... The texture, color and feel of what it's like for some people to scrounge for subsistence through life... It is "sad" in a way, but also the reality that people love daily. Am glad you captured it. When I read it, I see it *through* you, as if I too am the observer of Mr. Perry... I love the title of your new book of poems!

Mystic Meandering said...

PS: I meant "the reality that people LIVE daily (not love - oh dear)...

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

The reality of one old mans life...observed, detailed in poetic form but no judgement...lovely.

sukipoet said...

thank you for your thoughts Mystic. Re the title, the problem will be finding a cover picture to reflect the title.

sukipoet said...

Thank you Blue Sky. I have a number of poems like that in the collection, of lives observed but no judgement. Nice way to say it.

kj said...

you are a wonderful poet, suki. you paint with words. i will love to hold your next chapbook in my hands.

will you write a poem about provinceotwn? or about your friends from the blogs? I would love either or both!

love
love
kj

Annie said...

Susan
Your poetry is wonderful and I love this one, Mr. Perry does not sound sad to me, money does not make a person happy, living your life your way makes you happy and he seems to have done just that. xoxo
P.S. Happy Holidays to you dear one.

sukipoet said...

Karen, thank you so much for your enthusiasm. And the ideas for poems. this poem is very old. I only write a few a year but over a period of many years. love, Suki

sukipoet said...

Annie, actually Mr. Perry wasnt sad, but just an eccentric and curious fellow. Poignant really. Thank you for your kind words about my poems. Happy Holidays to you Annie. I think you are pretty much living your life your way right? Love, Suki