Four More Poem Fragments from Prison - June 1997
I hereby present from my ragged Meditations and Improvisations journal
four poetic fragments for your amusement, bemusement and/or befuddlement:
2 June 1997
11:05 p.m.
I was almost you
Building sand fortresses
Block towers
Club hideouts
Model tanks
Tree houses
I was almost you
Bobbi dolls
Plastic ovens
Easter dresses
Jumping rope
I was almost you
Making the grade
Keeping it high
Talking in riddles
Worming books
Unmanned fortresses
I was almost you
Offered an apple
Friend of a snake
Darling curves
Burned at the stake
What if I am?
* * *
11 June 1997
7:40 p.m.
Shines the star of
Beacon of
Fanaticism
Long division
Iciness
Shines the star of David Duke
Illington
And the day is done
God bless
Reaching the summit
Of Mohammed's mountain
As pale shadows haunt
The hall of King
And rising like the oak of Montgomery
A semblance of light bids
Fare well to good night
As the beacon
Of star the shines
* * *
13 June 1997
5 p.m.
Investigation
You cannot have your mail
Your maleness
Until we inspect it
Dissect it
* * *
7 June 1997
7:25 p.m.
Swimming pool blue
Boys in the chord of life
Swingset sunset
And the end of the orgy
Candor unravels
Like Penelope's dire
Tapestry
Fire box red
Rooms blazing with youth
But the bottles are drained
The smoke dissipates
The tea is still sweet
Though never sugared
Copper tinged nectar
Makes the clear air
More bearable
Rice in the wok
Tiny cobs and water chestnuts
The flavor of living
In soy sauce brown
Like Penelope's shag
In the night
On the rag
As we chlorinate loss
Try to conquer the worm
Crawling
In a bottle
Of tequila
And the sunset
Swingset
Lulls the boys of summer
To adulthood
To sleep
And the end of the orgy
* * *
four poetic fragments for your amusement, bemusement and/or befuddlement:
2 June 1997
11:05 p.m.
I was almost you
Building sand fortresses
Block towers
Club hideouts
Model tanks
Tree houses
I was almost you
Bobbi dolls
Plastic ovens
Easter dresses
Jumping rope
I was almost you
Making the grade
Keeping it high
Talking in riddles
Worming books
Unmanned fortresses
I was almost you
Offered an apple
Friend of a snake
Darling curves
Burned at the stake
What if I am?
* * *
11 June 1997
7:40 p.m.
Shines the star of
Beacon of
Fanaticism
Long division
Iciness
Shines the star of David Duke
Illington
And the day is done
God bless
Reaching the summit
Of Mohammed's mountain
As pale shadows haunt
The hall of King
And rising like the oak of Montgomery
A semblance of light bids
Fare well to good night
As the beacon
Of star the shines
* * *
13 June 1997
5 p.m.
Investigation
You cannot have your mail
Your maleness
Until we inspect it
Dissect it
* * *
7 June 1997
7:25 p.m.
Swimming pool blue
Boys in the chord of life
Swingset sunset
And the end of the orgy
Candor unravels
Like Penelope's dire
Tapestry
Fire box red
Rooms blazing with youth
But the bottles are drained
The smoke dissipates
The tea is still sweet
Though never sugared
Copper tinged nectar
Makes the clear air
More bearable
Rice in the wok
Tiny cobs and water chestnuts
The flavor of living
In soy sauce brown
Like Penelope's shag
In the night
On the rag
As we chlorinate loss
Try to conquer the worm
Crawling
In a bottle
Of tequila
And the sunset
Swingset
Lulls the boys of summer
To adulthood
To sleep
And the end of the orgy
* * *
Posted by Jesus Crisis at 4/23/2009 7:36 AM 
Categories: Poetry by JC, Prison
Tags: John Burroughs Jesus Crisis Prison Poetry 1997 Marion Correctional Institution
Categories: Poetry by JC, Prison
Tags: John Burroughs Jesus Crisis Prison Poetry 1997 Marion Correctional Institution
I'm digging these selections.
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Thanks, Joy!
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I especially like the last one... like it a lot. The second one has some allusions in it I get and some I don't but like that one next best..
I like that your sharing these... I have lots of fragments of things but none worthy to share..
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Thanks! I've got hundreds, maybe thousands of these - mostly from 1993 thru 1998. At some point in 1998 I decided my poems were shit and began focusing more on plays and songs. Not until 2008 did I begin writing poetry in earnest again. I've dug some of these old bits out before. Some of them caught the interest of other publishers and ended up making it into various journals/zines as they were - others I ended up rewriting and making into decent and/or successful poems. So you never know.
"Swimming pool blue" may be my favorite of these four - it's the one with the most potential - I just haven't yet found myself ready to tackle revising it. One day.... I wrote it around the time I read Homer's Odyssey for the first time (hence the references to Penelope) -- and around the same time I'd received a cassette of U2's recently released Pop from home. The first line, "Swimming pool blue," was taken directly from that album's song "Miami." I riffed off it in a different direction, obviously, but U2's musical explorations on Pop had an influence on my writing that month - I think I even wrote some of these pieces while listening to it.
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I could see that happening .. being influenced that way..
I've enjoy the new U2 album especially.. I know It's a favorite for yours and Dianne's as well. But I especially am drawn to the lyrics on the new album.. They're very good.. and have caught my attention each time I listen.. My mind is drawn to wanting to do something with them but so far I don't know what...
It will happen eventually...
Thanks for the fill in on the references.. I think the 4rth one has the most potential as well. I don't think it would need much revision.... so for that reason worth revisiting.
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Another note: "Try to conquer the worm" is a bit of an allusion to what I believe is the first "adult" poem I ever memorized (back in high school), Edgar Allan Poe's "The Conqueror Worm," which is also one of the first works I added to the Crisis Chronicles Online Library:
http://library.crisischronicles.com/2008/07/01/the-conqueror-worm-by-edgar-allan-poe.aspx
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sorry for the illiterate english there. I thought I proof read that..
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What gems you've unearthed this time! I, too, especially like the "Swimming Pool Blue" one. But I also love the third one, with its marvelous play on the words "male/mail"-- especially given the context of having your "mail/maleness" inspected in prison. You've said so much in such a short poem... it's great!
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Thanks, Dianne! I appreciate your feedback and am glad you think so.
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PS I love "Bobbi dolls", in the first poem, too.
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I don't think I ever had Barbie, but I did have Ken - along with Johnny West, his Indian sidekick, GI Joe, the Lone Ranger, the Six Million Dollar Man, C-3PO, Raggedy Andy and Dropsy. Hi-ho, Silver!
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Although I can't imagine you in an Easter dress. Lol.
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Is "I was almost you" another Identity Crisis? 11 x 365 = 4,015. With a poem a day or even one every other day you must have written thousands. Sometimes I wonder if your friends really can understand the impact of being innocent and then spending 4,015 days of your mid twenties until mid thirties behind bars. I know you have many memories of that and wrote your journals every day to keep yourself sane. The compassion I had for you during those years I cannot forget. It makes me happy that you still are writing and reading your poetry and continually studying and reading the great works of literature. I just want to send you my blessings here for being you, someone who has never forgotten how you felt and how much spirituality you maintained during those years and even when released on parole. You have continued to minister to your many co-prisoners, care about them and continue with your education in spite of all the setbacks you have had recently. I send you my blessings here and have hopes that you publish a lot and take care of yourself.
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I just want to add this. Some of my friends were your professors at LCCC. They all realized your talent for writing. This goes way back to the late 1980s. I thought you were going to apply to a four year college and would have written a recommendation for you and so would the other faculty members I knew. However, we lost touch with you and when I first got your letter from prison you included four pages listing the books you hoped to read in prison. I believe you have read more books than most of us on the faculty of LCCC. You are totally amazing, John. I also remember talking to your Mom who was trying to get you out on parole and her frustration since both of us felt the total unfairness of the justice system. When Megan's law kicked in you were condemned to spent six more years at Marion. YOU SURVIVED!! Thank God..
But the unfairness still haunts me and will since parole and no job have been the worst of the problem for the past nearly five years. Now you are known as one of the best of the Cleveland poets and are getting the kudos you so richly deserve. You have many talents in both writing and music and even acting ability. I am glad others recognize this.
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Thank you, Helen, for once again rehashing the entire affair for all of us who read his blogs. It was SO pertinent to his poetry posting here, and I'm sure he wanted everyone to focus on his past history and not on his current successes, and these wonderful poems.
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hi friend
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Hello, Lady!
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I am always amused by these postings of John's old poems. I also recognize his talent and have for a long long time. I am glad that his new poet friends also have contributed to his current success.
That is what is pertinent and of course he wants to forget his past history. That's why he posted these poems, isn't it? There are probably several thousand more to be posted and commented on. lol
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I, for one, am not "amused by these postings of John's old poems", which would imply that they are not to be read with deliberation, cannot compete seriously or currently, and are not up to your "high" standards. I am impressed by them. I recognize the craft and creativity that went into them-- being a poet myself, and cognizant of all the work and thought that goes into the things he writes. His new poet friends "contribute to his current success" by supporting his poems- old, new, and in between. We also support and applaud his determination to move on and be successful- something at least one of his old "friends" has forgotten how to do. You just wrote "and of course he wants to forget his past history". If you recognize that, then why the hell do you keep dredging it up every single time you make a comment here? Are you just being ignorant, or are you sadistic?
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I've always found this video amusing.
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Diane, why can't you ever read his blogs and my comments without making such remarks? I didn't post his poems from prison or other entries from his journals in the past. He posted them!! If I have memories does this mean that I am being ignorant or sadistic? LMAOROTF
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You didn't watch the video, Elena!
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Yep, I did. Do you call water boarding torture as well? lol
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I had read your comments Helen and had decided initially they weren’t worth responding to .. being the hundredth time at least you’ve said some of these things.
I’m grateful though to Dianne for speaking out because it makes me realize I am not the only one who dislikes when you post these sorts of comments on JC’s blog.
I agree with everything Dianne has said here and support it. But realize after further thought I just wanted to add a few more things to what she’s said.
For someone who says they are a friend and supporter of John’s it amazes me that you have never, even once, attended any event that John has read at or participated in the last year.. and you only live 15 minutes away in Oberlin! I haven’t gone back to count .. but he has read or featured in 25 plus places at least .. most likely more in the Northern Ohio area including Elyria… yet you haven’t been able to make even one.
The other point I’d like to make is aside from rehashing old history “yet again”… these comments are always more about you that about John. It always seems you have a desire to continually toot your own horn and all you do, know and did for John. As if no one else has ever done anything to help him or that he canot help himself.. I’m afraid his family has done more to support him than you ever could… And your few letters over 12 years hardly compare to the constant daily letters, packages and support of his family and friends at that time. Or to all he has done in the last 4 plus years since he was released to better himself and make his mark in the writing community.
But the main point is.. how was any off this relevant to what was posted? Yes.. these poem fragments were written during the time he was in prison. What was he supposed to do ..sit on his hands the whole time? He wrote… which is good.. And he’s shared what he’s written here… end of story. The focus should be on the poetry.
If you which to write all these self serving comments you should post them on your own blog page were they belong.. or send them as private e-mails to JC.. especially the second one.. They really are in no way relevant to the topic other that rubbing salt in an old wound that is trying to heal.
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These comments for poetry John wrote in prison and posted here have nothing to do with anything either you or Diane have written insulting me, calling me ignorant, sadistic, tooting my own horn, self serving, irrelevant, and furthermore not supporting of his poetry. If this is salt in an old wound that is trying to heal. you just said it... so rub some more salt in the wound and hope it justifies your comments.
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If this blog would have been about John's prison diaries... or something that he shared regarding that, I could see your comments as being somewhat relevant.. But that wasn't the topic. This was a poetry blog... and the comments you made are more about you that about John... You seem to feel people need regular reminders of all you have done to support John.... we honestly do not.. I think I have them memorized .. you've posted them that many times.
And I honestly don't understand why these aren't sent as private e-mails to John... they didn't need to be posted here.
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I honestly don't understand why you don't send YOUR comments as private e-mails to John. Yours don't need to be posted here either.
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Tsk, tsk! Methinks another video, like unto the 1st, is in order. If this one misses its mark as well, I'm afraid you'll all force me to write an e-mail to John strongly recommending that he add Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing to his online library (he says with a wink and a smile).
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If anyone goes back to this blog I am no longer LMAO. Please check the more recent blogs, one just written today on 1/17/11. "Join Me at Playtime this Wednesday with Writing Knights" and two more "Prison a Writer's Godsend" (7/24/11) and "Sin and Slumber - An Introduction (8-5-2010) In many places on these blogs John expresses a whole lot about his experiences in prison. He was writing to me all the time he was there and I realized so much about what he was going through. I tried to help him writing letters to the parole board, consulting with lawyers I knew about his case and doing more for him when he was finally released after 11 years. I am re-reading the comments made after this blog again this morning by two people who only met John long after his release from prison. When I tried to express my admiration for his ability to write and his scholarship long before the two women ever met him who have insulted me in their comments I wonder if they still feel the same way after reading so much John has written about his incarceration and his recent removal from Facebook. To say to me the following is totally insulting: "His new poet friends "contribute to his current success" by supporting his poems, old new and in-between. We also support and applaud his determination to move on and BE successful something at least one of his OLD "friends" has forgotten how to do. You just wrote "and of course he wants to forget his past history" If you recognize that, then why the hell do keep dredging it up every single time you make a comment here? ARE YOU JUST BEING IGNORANT OR ARE YOU SADISTIC?" This was written on April 26, 2009, when prior to this I had spent many hours with John in classes at LCCC, writing him, knowing what he had to go through after prison being hounded by the parole board and not getting a job, while I knew he was innocent of any crime and was falsely incarcerated. I even had written the Innocence Project and lawyers on his behalf. I helped him financially and in many ways did my best to try to get him employment and possibly exonerated since he was imprisoned for false statements made in court by the so-called "victim." No, Dianne I was NOT IGNORANT OF THE FACTS NOR SADISTIC in what I said. I think you were. That is the last statement I have to make on this subject.
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John,
I love the leaping that the first poem and the last poem take. They are both excellent and really capture my mind with imagery that speaks about what was going on in your heart at the time. Thank you for posting these.
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