Jaffe Jamz

Broken Eyes

My eyes are broken
they tire from
relentless
bashing of principles

They wanted to see
what they should
not see
and broke
irrevocably sad

The fire that
once fed my belly
has gone out
replaced by
damp spirits

Now the kindred
fly lame
without wonder
transmitting disdain

I wanted to envision
peace and found war
my eyes cried
until even
the tears dried

I have learned
to confront the world
with my stupidity
and nakedness
this was my legacy

I was a fallen angel
without a god
to inspire me

I turned myself
inside out
removing the skin
from the soul

And without effort
I now see
without eyes
touch without fingers
and laugh
and laugh

I am no longer
a body
and soar like
an eagle
sans wings

I am a free spirit
engaged in the
most gentle
of intercourses
the world is my wonder

We will heal the disease
end the mayhem of war
calm the troubled
and bring joy to the sad
this is our legacy
© 2009 lgjaffe

NERUDA STILL DREAMS

Poets
we do not listen
to Neruda
or feel his pain
when he implored
you to look
beyond the leaves
and see the bark
we balked
When he implored
you to see the faces
of those that pass
we stare into space

Poets
Neruda had a dream
where all were
citizens of this
damned world
yet we hesitate
to complete his dream
and talk of pollyanna
as if it were reality
Both the left and right
have lost their senses
and betrayed us
filling us with lies
and hate

Poets
Neruda still dreams
his field of butterflies
lives on
Yes he decried fascism
and bled at the alter
of communism
but had he been
at Tiananmen Square
he would tear
his collar and scream

Poets
Neruda shadowboxed
with vultures
what is our excuse
As we let excrement
guide us on our follies
not exercising
our right to know
simply discussing
dogma with politicians
of the soul.

Poets
I call upon you
to take a leave
of absence
from your senses
and rise to higher plane
see the man behind the guilt
and most of all
don’t wave wands without magic

© 2009 lgjaffe

HEMORRHAGING

The Earth bleeds
we stand around
hands in pockets
some shout retaliation
some scream futility
still the earth bleeds

We proclaim peace
accuse each other
march and protest
hold hands for inner warmth
love one another with venom
still the earth bleeds

We kill songs with rocks
torture memories
plead sides
and wonder
why the Earth
still bleeds

– Some never learn to hate

Peace is not a tourniquet
Peace is a new Earth.

© 2009 lgjaffe

I remember late summer days cracking open tootsie roll pops to get to the tootsie roll. Why we did not simply just get tootsie rolls and skip the pops is beyond my current comprehension.