Martin Willits, Jr.'s Entry in the Gene Clark Contest

With the weather we have been having in Maryland, it is hard to believe that December is almost over and so is the fall contest.  Tonight I'd like to post Martin Willits, Jr.'s poem, an entry in the contest honoring Gene Clark.  Martin has been a musician as well, which gives him an especially pertinent perspective on this contest.  Enjoy!

Now That You Are Gone, When Are You Coming Back?

Based on the song, “Without You” by Gene Clark

There is no sadness without you there

to tell me that the world is alright.

Without you, there is no reason to feel

the sunshine through the rain.

Now that you are gone, the world slides away.

Now the seasons have no words to tell me

you are coming back and it is going to be OK.

Now the sidewalks seem to go on forever.

Without you the clouds are erased

and there is no color, no wind, just silence

never telling me what is going to happen next.

There are no cardinals in the empty yard.

Since you have been gone, I cannot go on.

Since you died, there is no more being with you.

Now every moment seems so senseless.

I wish you were here but I must go on.

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While I'm online, I'd also like to post a link to another of Martin's books, Playing the Pauses in the Absence of Stars.  This book contains a number of his poems inspired by music:  http://mainstreetrag.com/bookstore/product/playing-the-pauses-in-the-absense-of-stars/

He also has a free web book, "Late All Night Sessions with Charlie "the Bird" Parker and the Members of Birdland, in Take-Three" (A Kind of Hurricane Press,2013)  https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-DuKJaq66ClZTFyWmpGZTZ1bmM/edit?pli=1

In addition, here is a link to one of his poems inspired by John Coltrane:  http://issuu.com/homebound/docs/the_wayfarer_issue_1/12

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I'll finish with a few songs to inspire you to finish up your poems for the contest.  First is, of course, "Here Without You."  This acoustic version is from 1990, towards the end of Clark's life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh0fsliN43c

Going back to the Clarkophile's Top 50, I thought I'd post "Hear the Wind":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgt9TdH_CxE

and "Something's Wrong": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbkRONLK02c

Mustn't forget Thelonious Monk!

Here is his "Epistrophy":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9El7k4mNo

In this version of "Trinkle Tinkle," he is playing with Coltrane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WjW5orDM2c

There they are again in "Monk's Mood": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-_45lXgHZw

Hope to see your poems in The Song Is!