Guzlowski-Stepek: The Never-ending Poem

The memories went and we went with them to the place where memories go and people go. Some say Hades, some say Hell. Others say Heaven. Seems anywhere is fine so long as it starts with an H. Lucky for me, I live in Hamilton. My father didn't have a special thing like a coin as a remembrance of lost Poland My mother had her mother's ring and wore it all her life like a veil at a funeral My sister had a life but it was lost and I'm sure she went to Heaven even though I don't believe in Heaven. As for me I have the letter from Hamilton Museum thanking me for the fossil I donated to them when I was nine. I always was a fossil. We were all here once then we went. We went because Fate said it's time to go to the place allocated for you. If you go to Havana or Hanoi just watch out for American bombers or spies. Hawaii has a long waiting list Nothing lasts not even the future nor eternity I remember a foggy day where memories disappeared and when the fog lifted I knew nothi

They all came with memories The lost coin his father gave him The cup his mother loved to drink from The doll his sister carried as if it were her baby The chair outside his son sat in when the sun warmed the whole world But now the memories are gone Lost in some fog of days no one remembers  And all that’s left of them  Is me pretending to remember them  Is pretending enough? Making up the past enough? Remembering what I’ll never remember? Yes. It binds me to those I love  As surely as the night binds the sun to the day

 All I remember is the wandering the rod and the chain and the satin tomorrow I will have fur-cotton wondering where the road ends today I am a chair someone sits on yesterday I stood on a toad yesterday I ate a toadstool today I am chairman of the board wondering when the meeting will end tomorrow I will have fire gloves on Herod and St. James and of course Satan always remember the wanting.

Yesterday I stood on a road.  Today I am sitting in a chair Wondering where the road lead.  Tomorrow I will have forgotten The road and the chair and the sitting. All I will remember is the wondering. 

Yesterday is tomorrow's reality it wants you to arise from the dead  to take up your bed and walk Yesterday doesn't care if tomorrow promises you the Earth or even a comfortable chair. Yesterday is hungry for your attention it wants your adoration an obsession that will never fulfill you step away, out the door, into the present Yesterday is a leash The present is a happy dog Tomorrow is a walk in delusion

Tomorrow wants me to rise early gather my things and walk out the door It doesn't care  if I don't want to  doesn't care  if I'm comfortable here sitting in my chair waiting for something a something I want but don't know I want Tomorrow is hungry hungry for me  to step out the door Tomorrow is a dog and I'm on its leash