An Evening with Michael Lee Johnson

Tonight I'm posting a few more poems that Michael Lee Johnson sent me.  These poems are a little more melancholy, a suitable mood for the end of summer--although, as one of my teachers has reminded me, this is summer.  Let's make the most of it with some more poetry!

Photograph by Bernard Spragg

Dance of Tears, Chief Nobody

By Michael Lee Johnson

 

I'm old Indian chief story

plastered on white scattered sheets,

Caucasian paper blowing in yesterday’s winds.

 

I feel white man’s presence

in my blindness

cross over my ego my borders

urinates over my pride, my boundaries

I cooperated with him until

death, my blindness.

 

I’m Blackfoot proud, mountain Chief.

 

I roam southern Alberta,

toenails stretch to Montana,

born on Old Man River−

prairie horse’s leftover

buffalo meat in my dreams.

Eighty-seven I lived in a cardboard shack.

My native dress lost, autistic babbling.

I pile up worthless treaties, paper burn white man.

 

Now 94, I prepare myself an ancient pilgrimage,

back to papoose, landscapes turned over.

 

I walk through this death baby steps,

no rush, no fire, nor wind, hair tangled−

earth possessions strapped to my back rawhide−

sun going down, moon going up,

witch hour moonlight.

 

I’m old man slow dying, Chief nobody.

 

An empty bottle of fire-water whiskey

lies on homespun rug,

cut excess from life,

partially smoked homemade cigar

barely burning,

that dance of tears.

 

*Music Video Credit:  Native American Indian Music - Sunset Ceremony- Earth Drums 02

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

To hear Michael read this poem, please follow this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B29jHXIlMGI

Missing Feeding the Birds

By Michael Lee Johnson

 

Keeping my daily journal diary short

these sweet bird sounds lost-

reviews January through March.

Joy a dig deep snow on top of my sorrows.

Skinny naked bones sparrows these doves

beneath my balcony window,

lie lifeless without tweet

no melody lost their sounds.

 

These few survivors huddle in scruffy bushes.

Gone that plastic outdoor kitchen bowl that held the seeds.

 

I drink dated milk, distraught rehearse nightmares of childhood.

Sip Mogen David Concord Wine with diet 7Up.

Down sweet molasses and pancake butter.

I miss the feeding  the birds, these condominiums regulations,

callous neighbors below me, Polish complaints.

Their parties, foul language, Polish songs late at night,

these Vodka mornings-no one likes my feeding of birds.

 

I feel weak and Jesus poor, starving, I can’t feed the birds.

I dry thoughts merge day with night, ZzzQuil, seldom sleep.

 

Guilt I cover my thoughts of empty shell spotted snow

these fragments, bone parts and my prayers-

Jesus dwelling in my brain cells, dead birds outside.

I miss feeding  the birds.

A recording of Michael reading this poem is available on You Tube.

Open Eyes Laid Back

By Michael Lee Johnson

 

Open eyes, black-eyed peas,

laid back busy lives,

consuming our hours,

handheld devices

grocery store

“which can Jolly Green Giant peas,

alternatives,

darling, to bring home tonight-

these aisles of decisions.”

Mind gap:

“Before long apps

will be wiping our butts

and we, others, our children

will not notice.”

No worries, outer space,

an app for horoscope, astrology

a co-pilot to keep our cold feet

tucked in.

To listen to Michael recite this poem, please go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDcrurNlpz8

Tequila

By Michael Lee Johnson

 

Single life is Tequila with a slice of lime,

Shots offered by traveling strangers.

Play them all deal them jacks, some diamonds

then spades, hold back aces play hardball,

mock the jokers.

Paraplegic aging tumblers toss rocks,

Their dice go for the one-night stand.

Poltergeist fluid define another frame.

Female dancers in the corner

Crooked smiles in shadows.

Single ladies don’t eat that tequila worm

dangle down the real story beneath their belts.

Men bashful, yet loud on sounds, but right times soft spoken.

Ladies men lack caring verbs, traitors to your skin.

Ladies if you really want the worm, Mescal,

don’t be confused after midnight.

Here is a recording of Michael reading "Tequila": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWdtVP3UekE

Michael Lee Johnson lived 10 years in Canada during the Vietnam era and is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. Today he is a poet, freelance writer, amateur photographer, and small business owner in Itasca, DuPage County, Illinois. Mr. Johnson published in more than 1072 new publications, his poems have appeared in 38 countries, he edits, publishes 10 poetry sites. Michael Lee Johnson, has been nominated for 2 Pushcart Prize awards poetry 2015/1 Best of the Net 2016/2 Best of the Net 2017, 2 Best of the Net 2018. 204 poetry videos are now on YouTube at POETRYMANUSA; Editor-in-chief poetry anthology, Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze; editor-in-chief poetry anthology, Dandelion in a Vase of Roses; Editor-in-chief Warriors with Wings: the Best in Contemporary Poetry

https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Lee-Johnson/e/B0055HTMBQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Technically, it is tomorrow, so let's add a little music.  

I'm posting Woody Shaw's "Rosewood": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzSYLDLqDew&list=PLAHibYIS1Smf0Fg9kLtYYupKVUo8GpsHb

The other song is his "Theme for Maxine": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CufYDAopGNA&list=PLAHibYIS1Smf0Fg9kLtYYupKVUo8GpsHb