04/07: IT AIN’T YOUR GRANDDADDY’S POETRY
Poet, RAY GARMAN
Haverford College alumnus Ray Garman is an activist, an entrepreneur, a photographer, and a poet. Locally, Ray has stepped up to the mic at venues in Mays Landing, Ocean City, and Bridgeton. He has, however, traveled the world, and read and performed his poetry at such notable places as Robin’s Bookstore in Philadelphia; the Bowery Poetry Club, Nuyorican Poets Café, Neither Nor, St. Mark’s Poetry Project, La MaMa Theatre, Nell’s, and the Knitting Factory in New York City; Shakespeare & Company in Paris; San Francisco’s City Lights; Fringe Club in Hong Kong; The Café in Nairobi; at Burning Man in Black Rock City, Nevada; and also along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and with the forest of drums, and rainbows, gathering.
The following are from Ray’s recent book of poetry, Crossing Waters, published by Whirlwind Press. His website is www.raygarman.com.
Back Seats
Full
and earnest,
deeply devote,
my teenage
fingers fumble
with buttons
buttressing blouse
to touch a universe
discovered
in the back seat
of matinee movies.
I awaken the nights,
deeply desirous,
I lift your skirt
to touch a universe
discovered
in the back seat
of my mustang.
Changed
and transformed,
my teenage heart
sheds fear for tastes,
feminine charms
channeled,
when I let loose
my liberty,
I lift your skirt
to touch a universe
recollected
in the back seat
of my memory.
Aspire & Believe
Freedom,
the aspiration
a little achieved,
once seemingly
unstoppable,
then derailed
in red tape
and political
pros,
ground down,
almost halted.
This train
gathers steam
once again,
and great
marches
are organized,
even when we
think
they won’t
listen.
Hope
There’s no difference
in the call and bark
of ego
expressed
in whatever species
or persuasion.
Its flash,
unmistakable tone,
recognizable
though hard to describe,
known once lived,
not forgotten
nor remembered
with much detail,
merely endured,
each day.
Gaia feels
the parasite
prick a little more
and a little further from,
her shepherd hopes.
Found Within
I forgive
America
its failings.
The letting
go brings
calm.
Harmony
rings ethos
now patterned
within,
resident
and resonant.
It’s the people
who are
more difficult
to fathom
and forgive.
We should
know better
than the way
we act.
Haverford College alumnus Ray Garman is an activist, an entrepreneur, a photographer, and a poet. Locally, Ray has stepped up to the mic at venues in Mays Landing, Ocean City, and Bridgeton. He has, however, traveled the world, and read and performed his poetry at such notable places as Robin’s Bookstore in Philadelphia; the Bowery Poetry Club, Nuyorican Poets Café, Neither Nor, St. Mark’s Poetry Project, La MaMa Theatre, Nell’s, and the Knitting Factory in New York City; Shakespeare & Company in Paris; San Francisco’s City Lights; Fringe Club in Hong Kong; The Café in Nairobi; at Burning Man in Black Rock City, Nevada; and also along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and with the forest of drums, and rainbows, gathering.
The following are from Ray’s recent book of poetry, Crossing Waters, published by Whirlwind Press. His website is www.raygarman.com.
Back Seats
Full
and earnest,
deeply devote,
my teenage
fingers fumble
with buttons
buttressing blouse
to touch a universe
discovered
in the back seat
of matinee movies.
I awaken the nights,
deeply desirous,
I lift your skirt
to touch a universe
discovered
in the back seat
of my mustang.
Changed
and transformed,
my teenage heart
sheds fear for tastes,
feminine charms
channeled,
when I let loose
my liberty,
I lift your skirt
to touch a universe
recollected
in the back seat
of my memory.
Aspire & Believe
Freedom,
the aspiration
a little achieved,
once seemingly
unstoppable,
then derailed
in red tape
and political
pros,
ground down,
almost halted.
This train
gathers steam
once again,
and great
marches
are organized,
even when we
think
they won’t
listen.
Hope
There’s no difference
in the call and bark
of ego
expressed
in whatever species
or persuasion.
Its flash,
unmistakable tone,
recognizable
though hard to describe,
known once lived,
not forgotten
nor remembered
with much detail,
merely endured,
each day.
Gaia feels
the parasite
prick a little more
and a little further from,
her shepherd hopes.
Found Within
I forgive
America
its failings.
The letting
go brings
calm.
Harmony
rings ethos
now patterned
within,
resident
and resonant.
It’s the people
who are
more difficult
to fathom
and forgive.
We should
know better
than the way
we act.
