warrentong.com » Poems

Amelioration

Warren — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:02:32 +0000

Sometimes they don’t realize
the gravity of their depravities,
and play things off as, “Everyone does it. Why not me?”
So when efforts seems less than perfect
and leaving home doesn’t seem worth it,
getting out of bed can be an obstacle in itself.

The least amenable start to seek recognition,
and the wisest fall folly to heartbreak.
Kind gestures exasperate.
Compliments appear wily.
Your haggard head looks on
for something better.

It’s been a hell of a drought, but hopefully this sparks something good!

Hikers by Day

Warren — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:32:01 +0000

They got caught
hiking at the wrong place
at the wrong time.
But they did no wrong.

Back home,
their families wait
for news, every day
for nine months.

The prisoners refuse to eat.
Too depressed, too fed up
with the lack of rights.

Help seems long
and far away.
“Tell our families
we love them.”

For Shane Bauer, Sara Shourd and Josh Fattal.
Please sign the petition to free the hikers detained in Iran. Thank you.

I Don’t Know

Warren — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:38:50 +0000

what is to be done when we cry,
save us from ourselves,
save us from the things we want,
because nothing ever happens here?

how can you reignite
what you may not have had before?
why do you stay here?
why do you even listen anymore?

I can’t help but wonder
if I made a big mistake,
didn’t say something I should have,
or said something too late.

The Miserable Misfits

Warren — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:08:11 +0000

Lock your doors and close your blinds,
safeguard your reputations!
They’re out for your shame and after your pride.
The miserable misfits are coming!

They’ll hack through your walls,
read all of your mail,
there’s nothing that you can hide–
devious deeds that only these
mishaps could devise.

Don’t count yourself out
from their tarnishing ways.
They’ll get to you soon, they promise.
They’ll treat you how you
treated others before
when you thought nobody was watching.

There’s nothing that you
should ever put past
these misbehaving miscreants.
They’re waiting for you
at every corner and pass
ready to cause you grievances.

They’ll do whatever it takes
and further still
plotting revenge and ridicule.
So you’d better take
a good look around.
They may just be sitting right next to you.

Spring

Warren — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:35:59 +0000

We’re still waiting
for all your promises.
Tender love and youthful buzz,
warm shivers,
sentimental words.

It’s not that I can’t live
without these things.
I just hate being lied to.
So much so that I sometimes
pick up suspicious rocks
to see if you’re hiding underneath.

I wonder if it’s you they write about
when I hear the dying crinkle
of a newspaper or magazine.

Compromise

Warren — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:28:23 +0000

Sold my soul to the devil in New York City.
He asked me if I could spare some change.
I smiled sincerely and said, “Of course.
But there are things about me you should know.
I was born in a subway tunnel
underneath Hell’s Kitchen.
Roaring trains masked my cries.
A bearded homeless man hummed a song.
My mother held me tight.”
The devil looked up and wanted to know
what the meaning of my story was.
I was quite honest and resolute.
I looked him in his eyes.
“I’ve forgotten it now,” I said aloud,
“but I’d give anything to hear it again.”
And before I knew it,
he pursed his lips
and began to whistle that tune.

Hopeless

Warren — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:33:59 +0000

Let’s have the diehard romance
we were supposed to
as if we were never interrupted.
Let’s go back to when you said
he’s just a friend
and pretend like you meant it.

No, my love, you and I are not
a missed opportunity.
We are a cautionary tale
for naive lovers.

Ready To Go

Warren — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:14:49 +0000

It’s a lonely night walking these streets
with the bright store fronts shining on my gloomy eyes.
I grow tired of doubt and second place,
but I can’t imagine not wanting to fight anymore.
Life can get old like faded denim.
How does one become ready to go?

Asia’s Royal Rum Tea

Warren — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:27:10 +0000

Which sat in my cupboard for almost two years
because I was too sentimental to open it,
or perhaps was slightly nervous I’d get drunk off of it,
no matter how preposterous that sounds.

The tea that she left on my desk
when I was too sleepy to wake up and say goodbye.
Which she left next to her note and little tea cup
as a reminder that nobody knows tea like she does.

Tea that supposedly makes for a royal evening.
But which actually just tastes like egg nog.

For Asia, with Love

Warren — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:42:47 +0000

This is for the girl formerly known as Joanna, although she is still referred to as such in some circles.

Dear Asia,

Here you will find a blog entry addressed to you personally. I am very grateful for your recent letter, and am pleased to hear that you are doing well. Since I am pressed for time at the moment, I just wanted to make a quick note about how lovely your pictures are. Austria looks great this time of year. Rest assured, a much lengthier and more thorough response is coming to you soon. In the meantime, please send Raja my regards. Here is a snippet of what I have been working on.

Untitled

Sometimes we’ll get really drunk, and we’ll do some fucked up shit. Like shoving girls, or throwing drinks into people’s faces, or setting furniture on fire. You know, all part of a good night out, or the prelude to a sobering morning in jail.
But sometimes, we’ll get drunk, and get into a car and drive. And other cars with innocent drivers and innocent passengers look on as you have one close call after another, swerving in and out of lanes, weaving through late night traffic. And one driver might catch a glimpse of you in their rearview mirror and think, “Man, look at this asshole. He’s driving like a madman.” And then he might check again and think, “Wait, he’s coming right at me. He’s not gonna hit me, is he? He’s — oh shit — he’s gonna — Fuck!”
And then crash. And skid, and swerve, and two more crashes, glass raining down everywhere.
And then body bags.
Yeah, I survived one of these accidents. But I’m not going to sit here and say something corny like I found a new lease on life. We’re all messed up anyway.
But you see, she was the most beautifully flawed person I had ever met in my life. And I killed her.

Hope that holds you over for now.

-Warren

ps. Please excuse my formal tone in the letter. It is a force of habit, I think.