I Stole The Chair

I Stole The Chair

Bob Komives

::

I stole the chair
that was their way to the stage.
Their stair.
My chair.


......early day
......late hour
......one west
......one east
......one to light
......one to shadow
......one, two
......together fused
......common spine
......common origin
......different past
......fore is aft
......left is right
......right might wrong
......early rise
......late carouse
......morning cult
......evening worship
......one, two
......too confused
......by the love and war of midday


How many different people must we be
before we let us all be different?


I stole the chair
that took them to the stage.
My chair?
Or their stair?
No-one cares
now that we have music.

Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 1997 :: I Stole The Chair :: ,9717

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Benches

Benches

Bob Komives

::

........Yes, these are pretty flowers.
Does not every village have such flowers?
We have two hundred simple houses,
two hundred root cellars,
three hundred wine cellars,
and two simple churches;
but no castle,
no museum.
Everyone will wonder why you
........wander by.

........Yes, this is my bench.
Does not every village have such benches?
We sit in front of our houses,
in front of our fences,
facing out,
along the walk,
looking over our flowers to the street,
looking after each other,
watching for you.
Can there be village without benches?
Why have flowers but no bench to sit on?
Why have neighbors but no benches for them to
........wander by?

........Yes, I sit here when my work is done.
Should not everyone have such a bench?
I sit here to rest,
speak to my neighbors,
enjoy my flowers and today's best story.
I speak here from my wisdom,
from my prejudice.
I sat here with each of my babies on display for
........all to see.
I teach each grandchild to sit here,
say hello,
and kiss an elder's hand.
I watch,
and I remember to tell my neighbors who has
........come by while they were hard at work.
I return your smile,
answer your greeting,
and wonder why you would have no bench yet
........have interest in mine.
Here, fifty neighbors pass on bicycle and foot
while the others stand hard by their work or sit
........upon benches to look.
They will wonder.
They will wonder until I tell them why you
........wandered by.

Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 1997 :: Benches :: ,9716

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I Like This Candle Wax

I Like This Candle Wax

Bob Komives

::

I like this candle wax
as it spills upon my finger,
burns for an instant,
and softly hardens from its edge.
. . .
I like its pearl, high center
that goes from thick to soft,
transparent to 'lucent,
apparent to vague.
. . .
I like its fringe
as it rises from my skin.
. . .
I like the whole, white wart
that dropped to silence
in our candle's shadow
as our finger pointed to the table.

Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 1997 :: I Like This Candle Wax :: ,9715

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Long-Legged Women (of Székesfehérvár)

Long-legged Women
(of Székesfehérvár)

Bob Komives

::

As long-legged women upon
........ long-heeled shoe
come walk their way through
........ reconstruction
their up-shallowed skirt-hems over
........ down-deepened tan
invite my blood to
........ feel seduction,
till purposeful paces under
........ pertinent voice
announce their course has
........ their direction,
and long-legged women upon
........ long-heeled shoe
have walked their way past
........ my corruption.

Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 1997 :: Long Legged Women :: ,9714

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Nor Must I Believe In The Brute

Nor Must I Believe In The Brute

Bob Komives

::

We can together dislike what our economy works,
yet disagree apart with those who tell us how.
We can follow the crowd that dislikes what politicians do to get elected,
yet we can oppose the large part that says they must.
Just being wrong
does not make it right.
I need not believe in moat nor wall to dislike my life in the castle.
I need not believe there is profit in slavery to fight for its abolition.
Nor must I believe in all that if I know this:
Just being wrong
does not make it right.
I need not believe in plot nor devil to act for good over bad.
I need not believe that I am evil to know of your dislike.
I need not believe in your favorite ghost to know our common fear.
Nor must I believe in the brute to stop the rape.
Just being wrong
does not make it right.

Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 1997 :: Nor Must I Believe in the Brute :: ,9713

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