Francis

Francis

Francis was my first love.

It wasn't Charlie Nance.

And he would be my lover

If I had the chance.

They told me he was funny.

That's when it began.

They said his name was Francis.

Francis was a man.

This is all I knew.

I hadn't seen him yet.

The final consummation

Occurred the day we met.

His visage was a blur.

His attitude was soft.

I loved to see him laugh.

Never have I scoffed

To love unseen a person

From just a couple facts.

Nature is insane.

Who knows what attracts?

 

Advice

I am not a doctor.

My view of life is hazy.

But you loving her

Is absolutely crazy.

The barracks cynicism

Apparently you've heard

Is false. I have known women -

Gentle as a bird,

Reliable and pleasant,

Thoughtful, happy, kind,

Who'd smile to be your lover.

Seek and ye shall find.

Goodness is passe.

But some women still are good

Like you. You could have any

If you thought you could.

Taste

They nailed Millay in later life

For anti-fascist poems.

Pro-fascist would have

Made them happier.

America has got no taste -

The critics never had it.

Forgotten now for Robert Frost,

Sondheim and Bukowski.

No one's ever published me,

So I must have no talent.

But I don't sing of blood lust

And my toilet backing up.

 

Nature's Friends

Cats know when you're sad.

That's when they befriend you.

They lie upon your bed,

Walk across your lap,

Nestle in your arm,

In the crook of it,

Cuddle there and sleep.

Their presence and affection

Are all they have to give.

Is it intuition

Or something in their souls

That tells them you're unhappy?

What advocate of heaven

Makes angels out of cats?

Writing Poems

Cynical or trusting,

Nasty or benign,

I must continue writing

Poems til I die,

Or I shall die.

Whether I am good it

Or it's an avocation,

I have to think that

Somewhere there is beauty.

 

Our Interests

Americans have interests

All around the globe
Which require several wars

In each administration.

With so many interests

In other people's countries

(Ridiculous if bullets didn't hurt)

Why are Yanks

So very much alone?