Posted by Anon. on October 09, 2006 at 00:31:35:
Poetic Matrix Press in Madrea, California just published a new book of poems by RaynRoberts.
If you're into good poetry by great living poets, go to www.poeticmatrix.com to see it.
There's also a website where you can find more info on the poems and poet himself at...
www.geocities.com/raynrobertpoetry
The book, "Of One and Many Worlds" is his best yet and he's hard to get to know 'cause he hangs out in Asia mostly where he writes and teaches.
Here's one poem I like a lot...but there are all kinds, many more good ones too.
DESERTER
by
RaynRoberts
When a poet quits writing,
walks from where he lived with the word
to be a solider in a war,
his pen rises over his desk
over a blank page
sketches that part of his soul
he will lose to hell.
The monitor on his PC comes on
begins a slide show
of all that he will see: homes bombed
and bulldozed to dust
man dog women bird rats under it all,
limbs of trees and men,
the sick and ragged end
he too could meet, or if he lives
the nightmare-memories
of nerve-wracked haunted nights
the faces of the people
he will waste one by one
flash across the screen
in the so called peace
they say he’s won when
a poet quits writing, when a poet quits . . .
Originally published in "Pedestal Magazine" & the book, "Of One and Many Worlds".
Peace!