George Wallace

 

WHEN I WAS DEAD

on the in-flight home
the british newspaper (enter-
tainment section) sd
brando wasn't afraid of death
& if i know death then
i know why --
when i was dead
i danced with persians
nested with indians
bred with a laboratory duck
wore green socks
gargled mercury
struck a blue vein
ate seventeen icicles
fathered islands
i gave birth to the ceramic arts
i uttered obscenities
i morphed worms
i hand-sponged a saint
i pissed springwater
& swam in sand
i drank spiked vinegar
& spidered dionysos
& for that matter
i shat a hairy mastodon
when i was dead
i stroked a harley
tore buttons
squirted like a trout
when i was dead
i spoke italian
armenian
sikh
greek
korean
mancusan
pomeranian
pashtoonistanian
srinigalese
& a silvery form of spanish
found only among the gauchos
on the plains of argentina
i married a pelican
i fished with walt whitman
i wrestled xerxes
i played cards with aristotle
i had larger teeth
& lots of bushy hair
i had incredible hind quarters
which i showed off in madrid
one night under a quarter moon
like antlers or a pair of alhambra britches
to anyone who would look at them
i gave birth to diamonds
i stunk like a hurricane
i made love for 18 days
in the month of december

i acted badly
i got away with it
i was not afraid
to be alive

 

View Photos From Skiathos Greece Writing Retreat Summer 2005 by Linda Graham.

About the Author

George Wallace is an award winning poet and journalist from New York who has performed his work across America and in the great cities of Europe.

He is also the Editor of the online poetry publication.

featuring some of the finest works being produced in contemporary poetry by established and emerging authors.

News, New & Of Note! George Wallace is hosting a new monthly poetry event at The Bowery Poetry Club, set for the third Thursday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. The series will feature poets in performance from local, national and international scenes. $6 admission.