July 4, 2004

• ElectricPoetry

  Let’s set the Wayback Machine to 1971

  There have been 16 poems transcribed into the 1971 section on ElectricPoetry. 1971, the year I graduated from high school, was the year in which I began to “bloom” as a poet. Never again have I been so prolific as in that glorious year so long ago.

  From my 1980 “Introduction” to my volumes:

  I began the year writing a comic “epic” about friendship. At the end of the year (I turned 18) I’d written about nearly every emotion I felt. I made it a practice to sit down and churn out poem after poem. Now as I look back upon my hopes and fears after living a little life, I find many poems very nearly prophetic. In “Depression IV” I wrote, “I have felt all the feelings without living all the life.” It was true. Even now I find I only repeat my themes from this period. I think I shall never be as productive as I was in 1971- even before I entered life from the “sanctity of highschool.”
  MFN from the 1980 introduction

  Here are two of the poems I transcribed today:

  “Failing to Bridge the Gap”

  Poetry by Michael F. Nyiri 1971
  

  They’re talking at me through the plastic barrier.
  They’re yelling at me through the plastic barrier.
  They’re screaming at me through the plastic barrier.
  But the sound appears muffled
  And their voices cannot reach my ears.

  They’re talking sensibly from the other side
  Of the plastic barrier.
  They’re yelling obscenities through the cloud
  Of the plastic barrier.
  They’re screaming with pain from the distance
  Of the plastic barrier.
  But they’re the only ones who know it,
  And their voices cannot reach my ears.

  They tire of their bombasts
  Through the plastic barrier.
  So they talk to each other on their side
  Of the plastic barrier.
  And the ideas they exchange come from their side
  Of the plastic barrier.
  And they walk away slowly
  Leaving me on this side alone.

  “Mary Plus Somebody” 
  Poetry by Michael F. Nyiri 1971
   
   
  You’ve been looking at him with your
  Yearning eyes.
  Trying so hard
  And so great to puncture him
  And let him know about
  That tender feeling inside your heart.
  Each day you almost come close
  To opening your mouth
  And saying those
  Three small words.
  And then you get to thinking 
  That maybe he doesn’t even
  Care about you.
  Then comes that day
  You’ve been waiting for
  For so long.
  You’re right there with him
  Talking with him betraying 
  Your feelings. 
  Then something slips
  And you see the sparkle
  Adorning his eyes.
  And you don’t know how it’s happening
  As he confirms those
  Things he’s held back all along.
  Sun slaps into your brain
  The warmth slides
  Into your body.
  Your smile tells him your deepest thoughts.
  And he says your three words
  For you..

  • 12:40 am
  • 2 Comments