Jan
Literati
I have watched the development of Jon Tobias as a writer for a number of years, now, and featured his work in last June’s anthology, 5×5: Keeping the Dream Aloft.
The theory behind our support of writers here at the Towers that are A Word with You Press has always been simple: we give you a forum to express your works, and you will hit your stride and create a worthwhile body of work.
Jon Tobias has the potential to be a significant novelist. Still tuning his piano. Rather than submit a conventional response to our contest,Something to Wine About, Jon wrote poetry. I never knew he had that capacity, and this poem can compete with my favorite book of poetry, the 1948 This is my Beloved by Walter Benton, which I actually keep by my bedside, a copy in the ‘Cow and one in Ceske Budejovice, whenever I need a reminder of the power of romantic love, and the depths of passion.
So why should I congratulate Jonny and not my narcissistic self ? All Jonny did was prove me right about his abilities. George Peppard says it best:
He-e-e-e-e-r’s Jonny!
Tonight Calls
by Jonny Tobias
You smile purple,
a sleepy-eyed wild animal
resting its head on top of a kill.
You playfully bite my salty shoulder,
laugh, and stick out a stained tongue.
I want to wrap your laughter
in butcher paper
the way it falls out so hard
like a severed limb hitting tile floor.
You go to the kitchen
leaving the tiny ghost
of this morning’s perfume
to dance next to me.
The wine bottle stutters
but, but, but, but,
in protest as it empties
as if it were a warning
that it is late
that we have work in the morning
that too drunk is too easy to achieve
but we are peaceful predators
and the days are hard and long
and sleep for us is a missing child
on the fifth day of searching.
I need your heavy laughter
as much as this creeping,
numbing warmth.
I need shelter,
the deep war trenches of our backs
for our tiny hearts
when we lay down at night.
You walk back to me
as if it were a dance
with two full glasses of wine
and we cheers
to the holdout for hope
as if we rescued it
just before it climbed the guard rails
of a tall bridge.
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Please share this post, and wine not enter the contest yourself?
I am enjoying poetry more these days…. never was a big fan in my younger years… Your piece is a refreshing reminder of the art of poetry which attracts me. There is much to contemplate in this piece. So good to read your submission to the contest Mr Tobias!