I Wish I'd Written This

I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS LONG AGO IN HOPES YOU MIGHT SEE IT AND STILL BE HERE

By Tim Schaefer

Online bullying? 

when I was comin' up

it was up close

and personal

and in your face

(not Facebook)

one thing it does

when you're on the receiving end

is helps to build character

so develop a hard shell

kids

like that giant tortoise at the zoo

(and shine it with turtle wax)

and have some empathy

for your tormentors

for they are hurting

the same as you

and

consider the source

can't tell you how many times

that has seen me through

never once validated

or took their words

to heart

that's called knowing who you are

never knew anyone

of my generation

(them damn hippies!)

who checked out over it

cuz

there is a place

deep inside

at your very core

where no one can hurt you

find it

it is your strength

and your reserve

and one day

it will lead you

triumphant

into the sun

The recent April challenges for Poetry Month resulted in much wonderful poetry. Impossible to single out favourites from such riches – yet this one particularly caught my eye, for its subject matter as well as its execution. I hope these words, based on personal experience, might reach and help those who need them. 

I notice that these days I don't write much socio-political stuff any more, and that I don't think highly of those I did write in my fiery youth. Such things can date easily, and the heat of the moment is not always a good place to write from. 

This poem avoids such traps by focusing on that personal aspect which is also universal, from a very human perspective.

We know that online bullying is a serious issue. Tim reminds us that it is a new form of an old problem, and that it is possible to withstand it. His words put me in mind of good fatherly advice. Which is not to say that this advice can reach all the bullied kids in the world, nor that it could get through to all of them if it did – but we have to do what we can, don't we, if we see a possibility? What better way for a poet to address the problem? We can send out our words like the proverbial bread upon the waters, and hope and pray they may have an effect.

Many of us know Tim Schaefer better as Timoteo, his blogging name. When I asked him for some details about himself, he sent me these bio notes:

Self-proclaimed desert rat Tim Schaefer resides in southern Arizona. He spent way too many years as a rock n roll radio deejay--both inside and outside the continental United States--yet somehow survived!  His poetry, essays, and short stories have appeared in South Dakota Review, Mind In Motion, The Awareness Journal, and other literary publications. His first book, Darwin's Moon, is a memoir of high times and low places. Wending its way through the stories and poems of his latest offering, Last Tango In Timbuktu, is the theme of chance encounters and the strange bedfellows they create. Tim blogs at Catnip and also collaborates on a film review blog with author and Broadway playwright Jill Williams at Timmy's Noodle FilmReviews.

I've just had a look at the film reviews. Very informative (about the stuff you want to know – while avoiding spoilers) and very readable!

Material shared in 'I Wish I'd Written This' is presented for study and review. Poems, photos and other writings remain the property of the copyright owners, usually their authors.

Poem of the Week - Two for the Price of One

Kids, I am excited to be bringing back the Poem of the Week series. This will normally be whatever poem really knocks my socks off in any given week. This week, a poem by Myrna Rosa at Daily Spirit caught at my heart. Myrna is a traveler with a very large heart of her own, as you will see in this poem. Below Myrna's poem is a second gem, by Timoteo. Why choose? We can enjoy BOTH! 

A VISIT TO MOTHER-IN-LAW

A person needs just a little space to live.

Her tiny room is dark, lifeless.

Pictures “adorn” every inch of wall.

Jesus bleeds.

His mother and the saints suffer.

“There’s nothing good to eat here.  Look at that ugly thing they brought me.” 

She points to an innocent piece of chocolate cake,

that I’d gladly devour if I lived in her space,

I think.

I let her believe I’m kind to bring her homemade fish.

It makes her happier than to know what is

fast food – she never approved.

And why does she eat corn flakes with every meal?

Because she can

still possess feedom’s ghost.

Only ghosts willingly see her now.

Really.

Willingly.

Obligation mixed with love makes me visit.

But truth is truth,

most times, I’d rather not go.

Not because I fear the ghosts,

or Jesus’ painfully tortured look,

his mother’s and other martyrs’

portrayal of absence – no heaven on earth.

But I must fear… something.

There is certainty in her eyes.

She gives me five little packets of graham crackers she’d saved,

and a little bracelet someone made.

I leave contemplating her little place,

knowing

to live or die, 

we need just a little space.

*************************

Isn't this poem touching? Thanks, Myrna, for being a part of our community. 

I already had this set to go when Timoteo at Catnip sprang his fantastic poem Kiss From the Clouds on the blogosphere. I simply have to include it here in case some of you may have missed it. Way to write, Timo!

She was a woman from Jakarta
the mistress of a Cardinal
and she painted lonely landscapes
on her journey to the sea

A child of the east
a woman of the west
she loves only what is forbidden
standing naked in the courtyard of a country church
where you have followed her from the tourist bus
dark angel beseeching heaven
for a sign from her departed lover

And you know that you can touch her
but she has already told you
that sex is meaningless unless
it is tied to some romantic illusion

And she has told you that her lover
had said that when he is dead
he will send her a kiss from the clouds
and you turn your face skyward

And you know that you can possess her
but she has already told you
that life is meaningless unless
it is tied to some romantic illusion

And she has told you that joy and sorrow are both impostors
and that joy is born from exultation in the moment
and sorrow in a morn when the moment has passed

And you know that you can kill her
but she has already told you
that death is meaningless unless
it is tied to some romantic illusion

And the rain comes like music divinely orchestrated
and your tears come like the muse
unexpected but greatly appreciated
and the colors of the rainbow explode inside your head
as she transmogrifies into a vision of the Madonna

And transcends into heaven

And you wonder who will pick the shrapnel from your eyes
as the rain sends you a kiss from the clouds

She was a woman from Jakarta
the mistress of a Cardinal
and she painted lonely landscapes
on her journey to the sea 

                                              **********************************************
Wow. Just so good.  Come back next week, kids, as we will be featuring a Blog of the Week. (I love this! So much fun!)

Life of a Poet--Timoteo

by Sherry Blue Sky

Hey, kids, when the blog Catnip first appeared on the blogroll, and I investigated, I discovered one of the way coolest poets in blogdom. I believe the first poem of Timoteo’s that I read was The White Hotel,  and I was hooked. I’ve been a follower ever since. Tim has a highly original voice. His work is very real, often humorous, always interesting, and has an underlying tinge of melancholy that, at my time of life,  I completely relate to.

For this one, you may want to forget the tea, and pour yourself a late afternoon beverage. Sit in the sun, relax and enjoy the ride. Today we’re visiting Timoteo’s part of the world, and it is weird and wonderful, beautiful and strange, and laced with lots of humor.

Poetry Blog of the Week - Catnip (10 Jan 2010)

At poets united we are all about our community so please take the time support your fellow poets by visiting our blog of the week.

This week our bog of the week is:
Selected by Eric Alder

Catnip penned by Timoteo

We Suggest the following poems for your reading pleasure:

American Dream (30 Nov 2009)

Reality Check (11 June 2010)

Romance In All Its's Glory (10 December 2010)

Every week at Poets United we try to introduce our members and readers to a poet and poetry blog found here in our community. Poets United is about reading, writing and enjoying one another’s poetry and this just one more way to show our support for one another.We would love to hear your comments on this poet’s blog and poetry so please come back after visiting the blog of the week and let us know your thoughts.

We hope you enjoy visiting the highlighted blogs. Thank you for supporting your fellow poets and I am sure we will soon see your blog highlighted here.

Poets United