Holidays Our Holy Days
for Sandra & Ozone
not governed by the usual rules
able to predict, to expect
unexpected responses
calm to impatient, able to switch
as swift as thought process
string pop, music haywire
record spinning, screeching
noise no one can bear
nerves bare: raw hamburger, raw eggs
can make meatloaf
Sunday dinner, with mash potato
bouquet of flowers
set upon the table, at the centre
how I wish we could be happy
quiet, normal
wish thy kingdom would come on earth
as it is in heaven
for weeks, for the rest of our days
instead of fits
wish we could fit like cup and saucer
able to catch whatever spills
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
1:53 p.m. 18.10.08
October Eyes
of Vanessa Linden
avocados, full, ripe
must express appreciation
for pretty eyes
lit like no jewelry can be
brief available reward
full of emotions after a death,
a cousin, a loved one
she had been crying, sad,
heavy-hearted, downcast
day, rainy, grey, freshly washed,
sun shine in, shine through
how true eyes are
light enters me too
dark corner of the world,
thirsty for divine
see her, able to see through ink,
able to think
what is kept hid
a moment reveals
such eyes, like insects
alight upon my soul’s petals
cup petals make
long for visitation
cold eyes can, in an instant,
warm, welcome
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
1:30 p.m. 16.10.08
Devouring Time
for Erica Rolle
of Uriah McPhee Primary School
little school girl in uniform
here on the bus beside me
reaches into her bag, extracts a cookie
I reach into mine, extract
Medbah McGuckian’s Selected Poems
she eats and enjoys cookie after cookie
reading page after page, I look and I wonder,
are her sweets as sweet as mine
the bus on East Street, heading down town
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
3:50 p.m. 19.09.08
Essence to Get At
of Temader Mustafa
what are you to look at
what of you to look at
what allowed to see on this trip,
in this life
passing by, I look from my balcony
to see and to be fascinating
what could I bear to behold
bare to see
going into or stepping from showering
toweling off, toweling dry
see yourself always, I’d be in a daze
heart thumping, blood pumping
from so far, so near occurring
for hugs and conversation
two languages behind the one
you seem as at home in as I am
journeys you’re able to make in words
around the world, across this globe
what a ball of what is good
what a snow ball
syrup to pump into it
orange, strawberry, grape or lemon-lime
to cool you down in sunny weather
climates you’ve passed through
to see you naked, examine you bare
weigh breasts and hips
along with your intellect
how hot and alive your eye are
what have you invested in happiness,
in snow fall, in snow flakes
in day break, in sun sets
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
7:05 p.m. 10.10.08
Instead of A Coat of Many Colors
for Joseph Adrecko Cooper
& for Vanessa Linden
life taken away, snatched away
deserves a hymn, a song
along with tears falling, petal-like
like leaves, like rain
for who is gone for good, forever
gone from us to heaven too soon
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
6:10 p.m. 10.10.08
Loose Limbs to Tie me Up
dark woman in pink shorts
and as gifted as delight
I write because I owe you
who are so much
who give so much
you open yourself
and I am born
all over again
I want to take communion with you
if the Lord and you
would let me
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
3:39 a.m. 04.10.08.
Rainy Nassau Night
for N.T-B.
poetry penetrate my pussy
like nothing I’ve ever felt or had
in all my days
poetry pierce my pussy lips
like ear lobes
leave holes I can fill similarly
with rings
I can ring my pussy with rings easily
inserting them through holes
his poetry leaves
he wants my pussy ornamented
decorated with rings
should I insert gold or silver
or diamonds or pearls
he’s made the holes already
poetry he writes pierce holes
through my pussy,
through its two lips
so very neatly, all the way around
like minute marks on a clock face
are these incisions
to shove rings through
to ornament where I open
or is his intention to close me up
with sail needle, coarse thread
sew me up, so no one else can have me
is his wish to own me
though he’s not had me ever
though he’s not had me yet
except over and over again
with his pen and in poems
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
9:11 p.m. 01.10.08
Devouring Time
for Erica Rolle
of Uriah McPree
Primary School
little school girl in uniform
here on the bus beside me
reaches into her bag
extracts a cookie
I reach into mine
extract Medbh McGuckian's
Selected Poems
she eats, enjoys,
cookie after cookie
are her sweets as sweet as mine
I look and I wonder
reading, turning pages
the bus on East Street,
heading for town
© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
3:50 p.m. 19.09.08
