Consummation

Is it not enough
to grow up in vastness
and in expectation
with the idea
of casting out
bad property
and advancing in the
consummation nation?

Expect to travel
Expect to learn as
Travel is the best
teacher, best book.

Wade out into the sea
find bottomless expanses
where poisons are churned
close in on your place in it.

Once you fear less
you begin your journey
across the face of American business
and each contract you best
you will consummate for the rest,

Closing the sale for real.





Patrick Darnell (1981)

Daddy Rhapsody

Once upon a time
it occurred to me
my father might be
himself driving
to an early grave ...

When indications pointed
to illnesses
of the stomach,
and intestines,

Then surgery
Then bed rest
Laid up
then his epiphanies,

Over the years a
consistent development
coughing, or choking,
fits, like dementia

Rooms filled
with his tension
condition worse
overcame him;

[...]

I once wrote
a letter
in my head;
document
to my observations
what he wants
for his life.

If you start again
not to a grand end
nor out of tense gut
nor broken hearts
no, you live forever.

Who could have told him
'High Roller' meant
'Rolaids' and,
possibly shortened days
... No one dared to say
because would he have listened;

[...]

Screaming matches
no longer can we afford,
though this time
I come to you
I feel a doom
some hurt and shame
loss remains
a gulf separates
shore to shore
uncrossed;

Father please
do not react
... truly I know
you want the best
for your family,
go ahead ask
ask you loving wife
dependable source
and sure mate,

Maybe I feel guilty
a bit, and feeling shy
and away like an
absurd thing ...

Should it be
worked out
after able to sit down
tell a long story
about a king and queen,

and the daughter, son,
who went away
whose children both
boys and girls
return to find
purpose
history
long stories
lusty tales
and some unkind things too.



Patrick Darnell (1977)

Blood shed and trains
... they rode
the war took them away

Hot heads shrieking pain
... for fame replete
a meal dead men eat

War brought them home again
... all that remains
trumpets for kings of bane

All that remains to tell
... stories random
of hog's heads swelled.

Hogs' heads piled high
... like abalone shells.
boys got shot all to hell

Kings of bane
... 'round their necks
not holy chains.


Patrick Darnell