My face isn't carved in a mountain. I've never been struck by lightning.
I've never saved a crying baby from a burning house fire nor have I over come my misfortunes in life to acquire a name for myself. I consider myself a writer although all I've written is only pieces of torn limbs of my distraught existence. (a bunch of poems)
It was 1999 I was working for L.H Smith construction out of Tecumseh Michigan.
On my way to work I pulled safely to the side of the road and wrote this poem on a recyclable McDonald's bag. Originally titled "the politicians" every thing I write is subject to change.
When I got to the job Larry asked me why I was late. He acted like he was gonna hit me with his hammer when I told him "I stopped to write a poem".
Have you ever been scared for your life?
I don't mean with a terminal illness.
You keep up your fight
Stay vigilant this is the fight of your life
And I don't mean startled
While white knuckle driving on a Michigan icy winter road
That only lasts a fraction of a second
I mean sitting in a stall
Pants down around your ankles Listening to whispers on the other side
why are they whispering?
Listening closely
Did I remember to wipe?
Beyond the whispers is the rest of the prisoners
watching the news anticipating the call "chow"! Russel's voice chanting sticks out
"it's about to get real up in this mother fucker" News doesn't help rolling a story of a black inmate across the street killed by white corrections officers A helicopter flying overhead capturing video of the prison yard and buildings engulfed with flames
Sirens from police, fire and medical emergency units prison lock down whistle blowing
And still Russel pounding his fist on his chest
"it's about to get real up in this mother fucker".
What did I get myself into?
I came out of the stall at arms No one seems to notice me
being freaked out
Except Earl Pullin my bunkie
He said," what's up white boy"?
laughing at Russel
Don't let Russell freak you out
They get away with this all the time
Killing a man in jail
Striping him from his rights
killing him.
And getting away with it.
Happens all the time
Just write about it
It's about to get real
Up in this mother fucker
It happens all the time
At the beginning of the covid Epidemic I joined an online writing group to help pass the time. The site administrator would throw a title out and participants had until 5 p.m. to write a short story, Paragraph or poem using the words. Thus, my inspiration for "sorry I'm late".
Sorry I'm late
It wasn't that long ago
I don't know why
I didn't start it right away
Are homes were lit by
Oil lamps
I've been working on it
In my head for years
But on paper
It just doesn't look the same
I go to the ice box
To get something to eat
Why's it up to me?
To fix everything
The world's it's own place
Not so discrete
But people continue
To look the other way
Including myself
Let someone else
Be on the front page
The Lord works
In mysterious ways
I'm here
"Sorry I'm late"
Bob Jenkens
My dad didn't go to culinary school. He used to make a mean hot dog omelet which I also felt compelled to write about. I submitted it to the 2020 pandemic lock down cookbook. I'm grateful my submission was accepted. They even gave me two pages for the recipe, a picture and the poem I wrote. larry-clarks-famous-hot-dog-omelet.html
I'm gonna start over
Like I was just born This morning
A brand new day
The sun is shining
Birds are singing
A 65 degree spring day
A perfect day to learn to walk again
Freed from this cocoon
I've been rapped up in
I'm gonna start over
When blessings descend
And flourish in warm sun rays
Take a deep breath
Brush off my shoulders
Reach for the sky
And rise to my feet
Look straight ahead
It's a brand new day
Bob Jenkens
I wrote this in 2005 I was sitting in my truck at St Mary's at the lakes. I was going through R.I.C.A with the Catholic church.
Several times I've read the piece and wondered what about March and April?
May 1st is going to be starting over at a lot of things.
I'm being held hostage
Against my own fear
Of last hopes
Please leave
The girl of my dreams
In a small piece of clothing
On top of a bear skin rug
In front of a crackling fire
In a cabin somewhere
Far from civilization
P.s not a real bear skin rug
That's cruel.
Bob Jenkens
I've always told myself if the end of the world seemed eminent. I would just go hide out with a woman and die with a smile on my face. Back to work tomorrow.