JESS GRAF
1935-2009
curiosity killed the mountain cat
his final lair still humming
with mind outflowing
hard-cut flint sparks
zing into darkened corners
to die
like banjo notes fading
to infinity
mountain cat man do the word
the phrase that blaze
down the lines
ignite the next
and so on
fireline a path
mountain cat arroyo and dry wash
concealin arrowheads
the ones that missed
zinged by mt cat’s
broadside hide
now he digs em up
remembers where they are
never forgets close calls
& who’s hunting who…
mt cat at war with the Lady
at war for the Lady
‘gainst tin ears and gung-ho drums
at peace when it swings
like Stuart’s bison’s belly
mt cat stalks in perfect homage
homage to the smell of blood
brothers
& the beat of it as
he runs
fluid firm stride footfall
words pound the earth
both hunter and prey
lover and today
marine drills and cinder tracks
trackless forests and rainslick streets
treading the boards as
different creatures
to know them
& express them
mt cat camouflage
& listening always for the Lady
woman with deepest breath
to lead the chase
superior claws
for the seizing
the painful lessons
then retracting
in momentary embrace
and in the ear
purring yr lines…
jess: yr lines added up
i will carry them
yr pal, ogg
--Jim Bernath
1935-2009
curiosity killed the mountain cat
his final lair still humming
with mind outflowing
hard-cut flint sparks
zing into darkened corners
to die
like banjo notes fading
to infinity
mountain cat man do the word
the phrase that blaze
down the lines
ignite the next
and so on
fireline a path
mountain cat arroyo and dry wash
concealin arrowheads
the ones that missed
zinged by mt cat’s
broadside hide
now he digs em up
remembers where they are
never forgets close calls
& who’s hunting who…
mt cat at war with the Lady
at war for the Lady
‘gainst tin ears and gung-ho drums
at peace when it swings
like Stuart’s bison’s belly
mt cat stalks in perfect homage
homage to the smell of blood
brothers
& the beat of it as
he runs
fluid firm stride footfall
words pound the earth
both hunter and prey
lover and today
marine drills and cinder tracks
trackless forests and rainslick streets
treading the boards as
different creatures
to know them
& express them
mt cat camouflage
& listening always for the Lady
woman with deepest breath
to lead the chase
superior claws
for the seizing
the painful lessons
then retracting
in momentary embrace
and in the ear
purring yr lines…
jess: yr lines added up
i will carry them
yr pal, ogg
--Jim Bernath
In Memory of Jess Graf
Poem for Jess Graf
Not so romantic
as the years file out
choices used up
each by each
To be 40 with 56 cents
or 56 with 40 cents
needing typewriter paper
a pack of cigarettes
Old friends
and family wax fat
buy bigger houses
newer cars
Your date of birth
recedes over the horizon
on food stamp forms
Simply too late
to join the game
Scrape the drawer for change,
enough nickels and dimes
to march for a sixer
The wind is cold and brisk,
to draw succor from it
is the trick.
The poem is the thing!
To walk out upon the pavement -
and feel it breathing in the air!
--Les Reed
Not so romantic
as the years file out
choices used up
each by each
To be 40 with 56 cents
or 56 with 40 cents
needing typewriter paper
a pack of cigarettes
Old friends
and family wax fat
buy bigger houses
newer cars
Your date of birth
recedes over the horizon
on food stamp forms
Simply too late
to join the game
Scrape the drawer for change,
enough nickels and dimes
to march for a sixer
The wind is cold and brisk,
to draw succor from it
is the trick.
The poem is the thing!
To walk out upon the pavement -
and feel it breathing in the air!
--Les Reed
photo by Jim Bernath