- CounterPunch.org - https://www.counterpunch.org -

3 by Paul Lojeski

Lament
by PAUL LOJESKI

 

The boss

man

cracked

the whip

and we

jumped.

Nothing

unusual

about that,

except

I jumped

higher

than

the rest.

 

When We End
by PAUL LOJESKI

(after Melancholia)

 

Owls will hoot a song

and I will dance in that

final darkness down

by the rising sea.

 

And memory ripe with all

the words ever spoken

and written will fuel

the final fires erupting.

 

But who will hear

the last sound of living,

deer, human, or cougar?

Or will each see the lone

 

spark flare and cry out

together? tearing the dying

air with our terrible farewell,

sadness a thing much too late.

 

North of Carefree
by PAUL LOJESKI

 

I arrived the same

moment as the

others.

 

The four of us waited

at our stop

signs,

 

fingers tapping steering

wheels, wondering

who was

 

going first in that desert

blue sky with no

one

 

else around for miles;

corners of a

square,

 

points of light

breathing burnt

air,

 

hunters drawing bows. 

Paul Lojeski was born and raised in Lakewood, Ohio and formally educated in the public schools there.  He attended Oberlin College.  His poetry has appeared in Barrow Street, ABZ, Right Hand Pointing and Counterpunch.   He lives with his wife and daughter in Port Jefferson, NY.  

Editorial Note: (Please Read Closely Before Submitting)

To submit to Poets’ Basement, send an e-mail to CounterPunch’s poetry editor, Marc Beaudin at counterpunchpoetry@gmail.com with your name, the titles being submitted, and your website url or e-mail address (if you’d like this to appear with your work).  Also indicate whether or not your poems have been previously published and where.  For translations, include poem in original language and documentation of granted reprint/translation rights.  Attach up to 5 poems and a short bio, written in 3rd person, as a single Word Document (.doc or .rtf attachments only; no .docx).  Expect a response within one month (occasionally longer during periods of heavy submissions).

Poems accepted for online publication will be considered for possible inclusion of an upcoming print anthology.

For more details, tips and suggestions, visit CrowVoiceJournal.blogspot.com and check the links on the top right. Thanks!