Saturday, April 20, 2013

The 12th Day Of Never by BJ Neblett

Ok, here it is, my first 'officially' published work, a poem from 1967 that appeared in a national poetry anthology. The Vietnam War was escalating, there were protesters in the streets, Bob Dylan and folk rock were on the radio and the Republicans were about to be in power. I was 17 and in high school and sitting in study hall bored and just wondering what the big deal was about Friday the 13th. Calliope must have been bored that day as well. Enjoy and please feel free to comment.
BJ.


The 12th Day Of Never
by BJ Neblett
© 1967, 2013

The morning burst into a crisp,
clear gay marriage
of loneliness.
Soon the shadows of night
are forgotten and all around
is a joyful feeling
of sudden death.

It is the 12th day of never.

To the east the burning sun
is slowly climbing the skyward
of hatred and deceit.
In the garden, Alice In Wonderland
type figures have already
landed their forces in
the outer rice paddies.

It is the 12th day of never.

Scheming people turn in fear of
a strange flash of burning black
gone as suddenly as it came.
And the morning air becomes
full of cloudy, dust filled
rings of crazy people in a
crazy world.

It is the 12th day of never.

Now the sun returns to the west;
the frightening flash of total
darkness is about us.
Meanwhile, hidden deep in alleys,
people are drawing conclusions
on the walls and returning to
their coffins ‘till tomorrow.

And what of tomorrow?

Why everyone knows it’s Friday,
The 13th day of never.


                                                            Broomall, PA
                                                            November, 1967

1 comment:

  1. "...To the east the burning sun is slowly climbing the skyward of hatred and deceit.In the garden, Alice In Wonderland type figures have already landed their forces in the outer rice paddies..." that part right there - forceful vision. I can see why you were published in the anthology.

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