If Bread is All, Baby

If bread is all, baby,
the fat man on the corner
has a ticket to heaven
in his billfold -

If bread is all, baby,
the rich boy with the car
keeps love stashed
in his glovebox -

If bread is all, baby,
the man with the big house
decorates its rooms
with ecstasies -

But if you think so, baby,
why did you read this?

poem by John Libertus
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Until we turn again

If I must dance in the dark
then you lead
until we turn again

If autumn leaves must fall
you lead
till we can turn again

The winter grows long
like a breathless song
and the trees are bare
but the thaw will come
and the rain will dance
till the leaves are there

Since autumn leaves must fall
you lead
till we can turn again

Since I must dance in the dark

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poem by John Libertus
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First, you die to the world, and then

First, you die to the world, and then
the world dies
October burns

In a dark time, dark things gather,
want notice, die by recognition:
this one loves the fur that lines a leather coat
a woman gave me, long ago, for my glory, for the cold;
let the coat burn:
this world-wound oozes hustlers and hookers,
who snatch like a wolf, beg left and right, behind, before.
Who lives and dies upright, like a man?

Goddess of the evening, dressed like sunlight,
Goddess of the morning, dressed like rainbows,

carve like a pie, in slices, knife that knows your empty places,
beg of her latest, mercy on your soul -
let the coat burn

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poem by John Libertus
Added by Poetry Lover
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