Uncollected Poems by John Perlman

UNCOLLECTED POEMS

A SAMPLER VOLUME 1

JOHN PERLMAN

Grateful acknowledgment to the editors

of the publications in which some of these

poems first appeared :

Celebrations, Cutting Edge, First Intensity,

Lift, Longhouse, Noctiluca, paperwhite (a tel let minum),

Pound of Flesh Review, Shearsman. Tight, tel 28 let.

“In the Shawangunks” first appeared in

The Gertrude Stein Awards in Innovative

Poetry, an anthology.

Cover Photo on Giant Mountain

by Jan Perlman.

Room Press

22450 Sister Lane

Millsboro, DE 19966

men in flame

or the heat

from flame in

water boiling

or in words

incendiary

words their

faces masked

inarticulate

dispassion

of some

irresistible

revenge

the ones

whose souls

are promised

to a merciless

fathering dead

who summon

unborn sons &

daughters to

unceasing

passion

plays in

sightless

fury waves

of faces arms

for banners
streaming
seen from
rooftops
so world
disquieted
may watch
flame swallow
flame & on the
tables flesh
devours
flesh &
soupbroth
thins & dogs
go gaunt on
bones --- the
heartsick
put on coats
to walk alone
in woods
regretting
speech
framing
silent
prayers
concluding
as if whispered
in an ear we
beg forgiveness
for denying you
allow our loved ones
mute fidelity of love
seeing in their eyes
no heart for
war tho
fire
cover
us in
fear

If you wish a copy please contact John Perlman at roompress@aol.com