October 2018

Perry S. Nicholas
perrynicholas53@aol.com​

I am a Professor of English at Erie Community College North in Buffalo, N.Y.  I have 5 books, 4 chapbooks, and 1 CD of poetry. I am married to Maria Sebastian, a well-known singer/songwriter, and we perform our poetry and music together at many venues in the WNY area. For more information please visit my website: www.perrynicholas.com

THE LONG CLIMB


Trudging along, leaning forward,
I work my way up the winding path
to the baseball diamond on the hill
balancing my head, body, and baseball chair.
Who notices me, battling the incline,
 
trying to uphold the image I once had?
I suppose people giggle a bit
at the silhouette of an old man
breathing heavily, stopping midway between
the parking lot and his destination.
 
It reminds me of the scene
in the classic Night of the Hunter
when Robert Mitchum crosses the horizon
on horseback while the boy John marvels.
I doubt anyone marvels at me.
 
I’d give anything to be
a young Mitchum, but doesn’t
it mean more that I am
on this journey to build something,
while he is looking to annihilate?
 
Reaching the elevated diamond,
huffing and puffing, I endure
the laughs, pats on the back,                                
we’ll-buy-you-a-beer-laters— 
stand stronger than they’d ever imagined. 




​
WISHING ON THE MOON
                          Moon—moon?  -Laura from Glass Menagerie
 
You looked so sullen tonight;
at first, I thought it had something
 
to do with my not paying you any mind
as of late. When I heard the sirens sound,
 
I rushed outside to locate you in the southern sky--
you must have witnessed the whole thing:
 
a young man drowning in a dark pool.
Why pick this black night
 
to offer only a muted shine?
Weren’t you standing watch over him?
 
Where was God tonight? And the other stars?
Moon, I understand your half and hazy mood,
 
minus its usual confidence.
Always accepted every one of your faces,
 
but now I’ve lost faith, wasted wishes on you
with your dim, indifferent expression.

©2018 Perry S. Nicholas

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