- to the mother
by Nathan Maggard
down in the belly in the maw in the tombstand two legs strengthened by the anger of a frustrated wombin the night they wander spiral up the caseever close to morning but never see his faceonce the moon hung daylong heavytides of the goddess breaking levy and up the stair to forbidden heaventrod two strong legs from six to sevento a mirror reflect bright[…]
- on frivolity
by Nathan Maggard
“What is it you’re doing, young lad?”, the old man asked with a chuckle. “I’m pushing the sun over there,” said the boy with glee”And how is it you’ll hold him down—with a buckle?” “That’s just what I had in mind. You’ll see.””When I was your age, I tried a belt; long as the Earth was round. “Well, was it long and strong enough,[…]
- hangman
by Nathan Maggard
and last, hang him high for all the world to see the cost of lost integrityeach grain of rope met his soft neck in glee refreshing its parched stains another soul set freethose threads cinched on sin in tightened turnbuckle joy in a job well donewelcome new kin with a shake and a chuckle fate-maker and fate come one
- a novel in a bird’s morning
by Nathan Maggard
“I pecked a worm, then a friend joined and he pecked a worm. then a romp and pummel through dry dirt an unsure hop on some man-made abomination— and we ate and we made our escape.”
- hard and holy.
by Nathan Maggard
it must be hard and holy, this loveor it is secretly abstinent in love’s secret hearta stow away awaiting a shorea mouse breath beneath the floorboards there is no proof without difficulty; and all that is holy has been hung on some tree in offer of nothing else but proof
- the life-liver’s dance
by Nathan Maggard
a dream wrap’t round men’s heartsa whisper pulsing its constrictionsa tickling half-truth: “I am” becomes a thunderjust for the lightning, the gumptiona clay mandivorced from dirtrain without waterearth dry of heaven’s myrrh how long can a skeleton shakehow long can dead men dancefinally, any dream will domad devils all a’trance
- El Cambio
by Nathan Maggard
hot on the coattails of unity a duster don’d ghostpalms burning with puddled poems ever hungry for a hostsoon a convert marches faith across his browtrading tomorrow’s dream for totality in the nowhere’s a story of man impatient for the winever externally seeking the one found only within- meditations on Camus’ The Rebel, pg. 97; written in a cigar shop in Asheville, where I[…]
- Progress
by Nathan Maggard
She is always a new godEvery morning an evening to the nextevery man’s idea a slave to utility asymptotic eschatologymurderous messianism “god save the queen”…god of what?…queen of where?progressall for its own sakeblind corpophagy dark seekers, light eaters for-profit prophet killers and sustenance!dear sustenance! Where for art thouin all this progress?in the heavypooling bead of sweat ever bidding our brow’s tension?won’t it spillwont it[…]
- a symphony flooding
by Nathan Maggard
i’m convinced there is a poem ancient of days sung from atop a mighty crag a honey’d voice atoning for all lesser might and lighter choice that giants and men might have i’m convinced of a chord harmoniously uttered lyre and lyric lain layered love and not one scattered differences all unstained weary of climbing but pressing forward the troubled tread and whipped the[…]
- upstart friends
by Nathan Maggard
from a time particular to us when futures hung moist-heavy all words, every topic, just one a game of laughter and provocation bones plucked for battle sticks straws for marrow’s goal friends, a’meal, a meal shared I still have your fork washed by the time of that time particular to us
- for all we know
by Nathan Maggard
what is it that we produce and reproduce but souls for soaking up this infinite sadness accompaniment to the halftone key harmony of harps punctuated by bliss by happy glimpses at death what is ecstasy but forgetting? then we drone on dragging our blanket through time’s dusty hallways aiming for magic rooms hopeful of contents some for salvation some for soma it is no[…]
- thine enemy’s gates
by Nathan Maggard
how did Zeus get himself to the page? what mortal fingers scratched the draft of the god how are gods drafted but on the wind, on the fall of red leaves sewn for spring in sacred tomes and caverns to campfire coal and crackle “how does it go, old one?” and sometimes he’d pass before passing on that adumbrated dénouement so our symbols drift[…]
- hell or highwater
by Nathan Maggard
men, cry out for a memory long lost may salts dissolve our half-blind sciences and see again through eyes of faith; that from rivers we come on not more than bulrushes; that on hey mangers we lie humbled babes men, cry out for a memory long last blood-rinsed, river-washed for unbound violence crouches at our door red tides pent, wanton lips part fear those[…]
- dirt slinging sons of Mawu
by Nathan Maggard
thank God for his distance every instance of nearness visit us a contagion divinity revealed madness meager finite vessels, we to crucify the madman is a favor compassion for the overfull of spirit release of an outbursting desire uncontainable in the mind of man what were we to do end the empire? all become polishers of empty thrones? floors all scrubbed now tenders to[…]
- buoyancy
by Nathan Maggard
I cannot face you how could I permit early moon to such a happy sun I do not reflect you though when I see you wane all my darkness turn good for hiding bright pain and so, how long could you burn how long can I stand, float sadness on bright tides pillar adrift on you on hope forgive my pitch and yaw I[…]
- death to Protagoras
by Nathan Maggard
I will not to be measured by man ruled by those killers of well-spring daughters turned doubters wrung dry of belief blighted aliens a Jubilee! a coup! from measured madness a desert flood by tears for a God sorely missed robes torn, heads dusted thorns pressed crown to brow wonder working power we will to bleed for this: to live again wet in rain[…]
- love’s bread
by Nathan Maggard
have you swallowed God rejoiced in final bloodshed power in lamb and shepherd’s strike lead to golden understanding have you found Cain in your hand ruling lately and poor king without a kingdom pauper’s pride and pomp hiding the earthly urn measure kings by treasure or better by the cubits’ stretch as stories of men’s hearts from first to last healing humble robe wrap[…]
- song of the dead
by Nathan Maggard
feel guilt too deeply and sin too sharp fault inscribed upon his heart not a word in counter of moral pagan silence rise to writhe a’mourning a nothingness so violent turn the day and dread the night enact the sacrificial rite but have you heard or perhaps read our sacred sacrificed “god is dead?” leapt not to sky for endless search but into man[…]
- whaling venture
by Nathan Maggard
god and sinner reconciled divine made dirty through a child and washed clean in simultaneity reconciliation by the rock the god-man dilemma a going in two ways this the passion ancient of days man’s mind is proof white whale within hunter or pray true north to sin how to win but by losing ourselves unto this whim and wind “bring me the whale!” we[…]
- Punxsutawney’s Poem
by Nathan Maggard
closely, I am undeserving from far I can worship and fear sin brought near by truth’s fire burning infinite shadow cast me bare call me Phil; I do fear the summer sun and ask me again in six weeks my answer will remain: —run! so the devil’s veil man seeks no wonder man can’t stand his god; he cannot stand before him this way[…]
- Yhwh
by Nathan Maggard
signs and wonders lain at your feet but your confession lay pursed behind tight lips no breath fills forever justice demands admission nations as nothing consumed on cud with last breath cry out the glory admit the life that lives you and dances your bones and be happy in God or last pride across hungry lungs and choke on want ye vile of all[…]
- chthonic tonic
by Nathan Maggard
I did not see a man hag then rise like Osiris nor some devil bite at unjust bait and not a man sans hades himself bore witness to purgation’s broken gate now we moderns bereft of proof but full of pudding left aloft on dogmatic footing terry for science and tenuous morals dead in spirit yet singing choral praise all understanding this unchained mind[…]
- vita de morte
by Nathan Maggard
thankfulness, which is salvation comes in contrast reprieve, with nothing between its layers immediacy contact, ad hominem a movement of mood mind and body in bound unity to be gripped for knowing thankful, unimpeachable truth gnostic fidelity this saves us.
- vertiginous
by Nathan Maggard
look within and know your distance without be cast and placed but a dizzied dancing dandy you’ve become a god self-effaced spun blind adorned in modern beads darling, a religious whirl lust for the swirling senses a beast
- why shouldn’t we be like the gods and eat of the fruit of sacrifice?
by Nathan Maggard
why can’t I tasted deservedness bright yellow palms of fruit gratification in their shiny wax real sugar really grasped in palms of my own these fingers, false in hunger’s haste or else giants’ footsteps brooding no meat however fat nor idea in heaven’s dew technique torn between man, dilemma in two a becoming of bread a coward’s cracking pulled for parts for fruit of[…]
- slain supposition
by Nathan Maggard
retire thyne illusions grandeur being poison life, simple in a field love lain on a supper table love on the altar by hands holy-made men and god and bread between this is grandeur’s illusion slain
- hungry marrow
by Nathan Maggard
a return to huger first by mouth then further unto hungry bellies and bones unto petition’s last first plea my God my God why hath thou… “Stop there my child you are not forsaken. By hunger I call until you call me from your belly from your bones and have but the word alone we speak on emptied pride thankful for this bread I[…]
- that what’s sed
by Nathan Maggard
how then is one to be great on time’s scale or only humanity’s what is it that can be said for all ages —or all men? survival is the statement offspring, life its clamor funny, the stir-stick of this desire for lasting which no, who sets man’s mind in motion though it springs eternal few are we who echo whole lakes dry in desertion[…]
- this devil
by Nathan Maggard
saddest gift to give away gratification desire faithful lust haughty simplicity sweat and feast and dinner today a quiet mind full and sated bellies pagan love innocence from sin from thought laughter! at tomorrow for what is he but More: a plump ghost blind love surely even the sin-counting god rejoices in us this is the devil I flee? —Joy?
- want of weight
by Nathan Maggard
a touch of knowledge and tumult come of leavened gold bellies bloat a second day in seven spines repose to sloth man sick, want for work for heaving yoke we yearn but too long upon unyielding line and by distractions turn far afield and put to pasture on setting sun he wince in painted pride unsaddled youth inside un-rattled such value to man: the[…]
- breaker breaker
by Nathan Maggard
sin crouches at your door Love God! scatter mountains and shake demons fast and humble that hungry animal or pursue vanity and pleasure become you unbecoming devils and a fool’s nation gnaws a beast at flesh the mighty of God trudge the valley dry bones want of water Love God! you dear fools flimsy as faggots resist the devil may he flee you may[…]
- Leap Sheep
by Nathan Maggard
The lazy manhiding what’s heavy embarrassment embalm his bolstered levy should nothing changebut cheek and bearda knot becomesthis sheep unsheeredpotential muddied at sunset’s loomlife mis-studiedunwoven groomsad he’ll situn-anchored fearknowledge seep an un-damned tear spilling forth the single dropone leap remainand from the top
- Reproach / Rapprochement
by Nathan Maggard
In front of you I am before godEmbarrassedSo I kiss god and hide from her faceIn the hillsGathering gumption, composureto approach But she shines and stingsLike gin going downThe pain with pleasure implied A game then, with godSeek! Wait!—No, hide! And if she is within?Even in the hills An inch of dirt dug down:However deep I burrowShe is there She is the dirt tooIn[…]
- poet’s pride
by Nathan Maggard
in suffering the earthly urges he is religious, he wears his chains pride-heavy gold source of gravity to his words anchor to the flesh he’s eager to unhold in retiring from life’s game observer, kin to god unsubject to woman’s woes and child his lack-glory and release untethered, absconded, enlightened increase has he won God? he shines but withdraws desires but purges burns himself[…]
- Choir of Sirens
by Nathan Maggard
How much of me is to be occupied with birthday parties How much of the instrument of God is to be set upon monitoring some individual sadness Explain the holiness of worry over hurt feelings Extol the virtue of preoccupation with the feeling, or dread of the feeling of feeling like a shortcoming These are the contradiction of woman for man: Not enough flowers,[…]
- guts burning
by Nathan Maggard
I and the father are one the starved become divine a golden child is born these temporary hands of His, mine a Christian Midas given golden truth how can a babe be born long of tooth? starve the man become the child benevolence to self becalm the wild patient with woman whose faith is slow she bears Him, King whose crown will glow
- slave king
by Nathan Maggard
why so eager to busy our lives no quiet for God where busyness thrives labor unthinking is labor in vain this slight to numb the pain disconnection from one to All and each to other too tied to plow’s continued fall shoulder to shoulder-askew some know of this petty predicament but before the word, the slave mention condition and provoketh perdition to be dead[…]
- letting go
by Nathan Maggard
self-perdition a crumbled faith the auto-poetic curse of one’s own wraith a wrathful possession unwillful obsession; a relinquishing of arms not to fight such is our right to court these devil’s charms
- fast the devil
by Nathan Maggard
every great man must fast the devil, his stomach and hungry heart and each is paid the visit his deceiver na’er depart if Christ breath within him and recline in summer shade then sweat and swelter and shaking stick this lumbering brother forbade “who is eldest? who is keen? and who hath ventured from the tent?” “but whoa ye slithering wanderer, now your feet[…]
- salvatore, lamentoso è allegro
by Nathan Maggard
no one has time to be saved by Christ and the devil’s deeds come easy the one requires time, contemplation a sense for the inner the other asks nothing but silent instinct loud revery, and eyes outfacing the soul’s abortion into the sensual busy as hell we are ex-pressing the kingdoms within til’ nothing’s left but the devils we are in hell with ourselves[…]
- oh, malaba
by Nathan Maggard
a kiss is an uneven thing a giving and a getting one vanquished, one empowered same as ring and wedding both necks exposed a vamprous invite to those with the nose and an eye for the bite power tamed, converted from threat into its beggar the giver turned needy man cuffed to nightly labor
- sweet lies
by Nathan Maggard
what is a faithless beauty? shapely berry for the bite in thorns surround begetting flight but wait her swelling bulge of summer in fall she burst seeds asunder plump with promise her sugar stale how careful the timing of beauty’s veil
- forgetter
by Nathan Maggard
there’s a lost man in a lost tribe wandering through streets he paved hungry for bread of a flavor forgotten forgotten from whom he was saved and a serpent fast at heel “keep it moving,” he slithers no tree is home, no soil marked ‘safe’ and the wanderer grows bitter
- Confession
by Nathan Maggard
I’m always managing a lie That I’ve been a success That I’ll be one Or less Even to have one That it’s just around the corner The win The redemption That I’ve paid my dues That I’m owed a come-around I am not I have not I will not Save one I have successfully managed the lie The pull-over If it’s to be a[…]
- Nietzsche’s baby
by Nathan Maggard
A bath for the beast Wastewater of sin Fresh-faced glance In mirror to god But self-tamed beasts Have no need of masters Quick! Provoke him to anger Thorn his flesh with pink and pride A man can be anything today but a Christ-man Whose sin against State is his status A sovereign is no citizen to Sodom For he who is set free Unbonded[…]
- sol abscondis
by Nathan Maggard
what do we know but that the sun rises his belly full of fire and at night waves still shake our shores what more? the unconsecrated wait and wither the patriarch dread his chore what more? a moon-cuffed sun and blanket moon whose rhythm to obey? dizzy from dancing [ast]romancing til’ gravity has her way
- the ascetic
by Nathan Maggard
off my back and under foot I’ll call the wild when needed anima[l] fire in ash and soot a call best left unheeded provoke at greatest peril wench and devil’s herald from peace and patience eternal nasence song of war she carols
- river of dreams
by Nathan Maggard
In the heart of Mary ticks a clock whose moment is the moon Around it spins the Son rising at yellow noon Late to her, late the day this god work and while away Eternal Mother, temporal child all that’s mighty becoming mild The birth of man, his death to time Oh how fateful a clock we wind The sun her second hand a[…]
- essay of a poet
by Nathan Maggard
it must come inevitable from outside or within but could it be, for once, in courage this coming to his end? tragic sentence punctuated exclamation at its close a relinquishing of claims to deed in comedy and repose this the brighter—a willing act stead’ the tear-stained ‘goodbye’ instead a laugh at fate and fury ‘watch this!’ —a thrill, a try!
- single, sailor, signal
by Nathan Maggard
a man with no right hand shall bear no son for what will he be taught? grace or greed or grievance a shame he will have wrought he may write his way out instead too light for this world and woman pipe in hand afloat on wicked word ever chasing horizonal lumen
- omnibus
by Nathan Maggard
wealth enough to care for others wise enough to be free weather love and rain and sun these are enough for me to name the spirits forthcoming to breathe in the last of days paying warm smile to maddened men faithful in their ways
- for the cricket’s quiet chirp
by Nathan Maggard
man dancer upon his own dirt unbeliever in his gods seemingly without recourse but he has misconceived of their flight as though they’ve absconded at his bluffs instead they hide now within him; through his feet they stomp in his throat they wail surprised at his creative hand man, the dirty puppet convinced he’s a ‘real boy’ best he pray
- death by debt
by Nathan Maggard
a mass grave awaits the modern mind hates stinging truth and tooth of terror news of old and kill the bearer what do you owe and to whom? she who sowed you in her womb and what do you know and from whence? hunter of time before time commence river ever running a son ever cunning hunger his first offense my answer is mother[…]
- gelt
by Nathan Maggard
we are sewn from the sands of time bright seeds patient in womb gold shining from between parted thighs lighted ore inspire the tomb welling roar and swell of sweat dare we the plow, the sword, the threat? as stolen moon bides her time young thief racing ’round her legs gloating this free inheritor ripe to the rind crowned for slaughter kid and goat[…]
- straight to perfect laughter
by Nathan Maggard
I have made it another day without consequence no tax paid, no pregnant woman no colon cancer, no kidney stones I am alone with god and my books my buttery mornings eggs, a fast car, good teeth and death looms for the responsible man just the same as me All us actors are transient so a light knapsack I keep subject to a woman,[…]
- censory
by Nathan Maggard
that devil you hold so dear but for when it counts he is a two-way madman a devine despot jack of all traitors and every man’s master in rage he does not clench but wags does he compose loveliness and laud himself, this prophet? binding men in knots and oughts, both a priest and profit? this tease and thief and chief apologist do cut[…]
- ex-spiritu
by Nathan Maggard
break his body and break bread from purgation inspirit the dead drink his blood and jump for joy terrible treasure dying god sacred boy safe from sorrow in salvific rage murderer’s mana man alive sin’s wage
- Capital Letters
by Nathan Maggard
must I be so god damned significant? as if goddamnedness weren’t sign enough but signals we are lights and sounds flashing our shiny cuff “I am this sort of useful tool” spending my powder unwise “and I, this other” to mine and plunder twisting to my demise with that settled let’s settle our score who’s worth less and whose got more? what color’s your[…]
- young dying god
by Nathan Maggard
his only arms against death art and war every form created by mineral ore meant to slow the face of day but only the dark chaseth time away and so to grave he sows his soul back to soil to be made whole child again from mother’s womb rise and conquer from her tomb unto us a babe is born for our sakes the[…]
- manifestival
by Nathan Maggard
how mad progenitors born on stage dancing to a script writing without reading madder still they become should they join their audience a play with eyes covered louder still! from fear to fervor acting to know their god dance! become!
- taboo and violation
by Nathan Maggard
sin forbidden sin sanctioned and always for the good whence came this moral man such sense for simple ‘should
- tin man, bread man
by Nathan Maggard
“as we make bread, so will we make metals,” and as metals, the metal man; of tin, copper, lead, and gold, nature’s assistant hand our nature, then, is her’s ever alchemical mother churning concoctions to highest use even the bones of brother —a meditation on the work of Jean Reymond and Mercia Eliade
- alchemical mother
by Nathan Maggard
does she give birth, this earth all metal and ore by heat and hammer our labor restore what’s broken for hunger and want of land all of this mother the measure of man
- don’t think twice
by Nathan Maggard
fear and reason haunt the night courage and hubris, day a shadow never resting nor the lie two paths before us lay what befalls our feet but worry of profits and lovers lost but twice deciding day and night dilemma of greatest cost
- ambivalent chorus
by Nathan Maggard
how long the chorus dance our bones by nature’s heaving hips how little left to heaven shone bloody god on man’s ripe lips quarter-willing, half-compelled remainder left to fate how much of this is given to love; and how much of love, to hate
- an evil inheritance
by Nathan Maggard
dearest king, initiate to Isis draw near your heart to khepre and crisis he who rises to meet your eye who shines the day and marks the night but genies bottled long to tell awaiting the curious king a’spell conscious contagion upon your masses millstone to their neck secrets of the priest weigh heavy upon the simple zɛ́k dare you speak the glyphic doom[…]
- breaker, sinner, loser, winner
by Nathan Maggard
my sins demand me daily the sun rouses their howl but virtue is delicate soft frontspiece to evil’s unwearied war is this nature, Isis unveiled, that evil and not virtue is the more true god? her sun doth rise my heart doth howl and virtue? this dim hope in the bright night of day if god is good he is shamed by his becoming[…]
- solitude
by Nathan Maggard
damn mundanity but the sublime ordinary days ordinary time live forever me and the owl forest a blanket wolves a’howl stars in circle and time to see no personal parrot just the forest and me
- deus sive natura
by Nathan Maggard
Osiris of Isis as all men come fruit of fruition from root of perdition man marches on mana a’foot meat a’kindle on fire, on soot he is this light from whence he came a god of reason and nature to blame
- strawman dancing
by Nathan Maggard
i cannot hack it in this mad place circling feet beat systolic pace for unveiling the asymptote unending Isis spoiled for mason’s measure manufacturing crisis doth power tire not the tyrant pale-toothed unawakened while from he who hath not all is painfully taken rest is the promise to these the poor paying peasant but crucified their god now attention! to the present and who[…]
- circuitous love
by Nathan Maggard
I saved your mother’s heart, little one and so to save yours too that one day when you’re wondering alone be reminded god’s love for you so wait, though it terry it tarry not in vain providence she surely marches though, granted, through waves of pain if I love, there is love and love shall visit you in sacrifice of self you’ll find him[…]
- we who love wisdom
by Nathan Maggard
Moses in the desert wand’ring Jung with pipe in hand limitation maketh mind and mind maketh man end of infinite line, each from god within, dilemma reach forth from aether and back again signs to son of father’s hand from a place he cannot know pipe in hand we heave and ho’
- tired summer
by Nathan Maggard
don’t you forget that weed in need of pulling your body laid asunder hide me in a branch beneath fall’s yellow thunder memories pressed to dirt notice to earth and worms don’t you forget that summer we had rain and god confirm
- capital call
by Nathan Maggard
some know how true it is devil’s world this place serf to spell fall straight to hell at Dionysus’ pace sign our names ALL CAPS word in bonded promise debtor’s cry to empty sky slavery upon us
- plumambre
by Nathan Maggard
if we act with fists a’rage and play our strings hot on stage “for who?” I beg the writers hand and when’s the time for final stand fellow player he’s our god “Desire” his name, that lightning rod no not you but devil inside stomp our feet in regicide tragic heaven comedic hell all hands on pen, Desire we sell
- these i do love.
by Nathan Maggard
I do not love obligedness “never change your mind”-edness nor wasted breath on blindedness “where’s that thing?” unfindedness birthday songs sung off key monosyllabic mundanity but reconnection bodily confection happied heart of Jove in smiling eyes on dirty palms these, my dear, I love
- holy tolling
by Nathan Maggard
not so bad a life of climbing excepting, of course, the falls not so sad for having aimed accepting the holy call iron clad that guarantee a bell a’toll for us to the dirt from whence we came all but souls a’rust
- a drive by fruiting
by Nathan Maggard
fruit of fruition apples for others busy bees busy monkeys monkey business money honey sweet sugar sweat shop horror show heart stop not my circus not my style until the bloom let’s wait awhile
- saddest son
by Nathan Maggard
still a boy who admires him? free from their mores ever starting, ever stalling left behind young alone with children god, pan, omni jack of every trade bright minded to young fools but free – always free and sad thereby
- yo ho! and a bottle of rum
by Nathan Maggard
you are mother nature you bleed into knowing I am blind born culture lost but for the showing imagine your never bleeding how lost a’womb you’d be this is my fatherless ship afloat unmoored upon the sea suspicious of animating winds every gust an angry god and you, the bottomless sea herself in Leviathan’s house I trod anything to cure my aimless ills soma[…]
- believer anew
by Nathan Maggard
God on my lips twice each day with no voice he listens just an echo of guilt for iniquities but you speak back eyes aglow, living god who loves me how clear a voice how shameful a reflection my own personal god what hidden proof beauty in plain sight an echo sweet and forgiving my god I am a believer
- faithful father
by Nathan Maggard
and he hanged for a long while this promise between peaks while I could still conscience his morning face whipping off the purple night from his eyes he pressed two fingers to yellow lips and kissed me the day then warm shadows and lover birds sang praise with me: “all to us you are, yellow sage, our facets gleam your reflection” and he hanged[…]
- the honey dance
by Nathan Maggard
sage to the unwieldy lovers private in their maddness oh love lost, oh stars crossed and christians you are born to a generation ungenerous ramparts to what was tired lead lobbed at enemies long forgotten fear not the baby’s cry he is your sacred siren he will lead you home to god where contemporaries march in carefree conceit these are bees to leaden for[…]
- wait, wait
by Nathan Maggard
wait, wait I might still fall apart wait, wait I might still break your heart hold on, hold fast to the hope of who we are hold, us two together this love, this loving art
- unpublished
by Nathan Maggard
don’t put my poems down in some book of letter and rhyme. they are the ramparts. let them be not bound to a name like mine; I am neither quelle nor canon. Logos born of our lie I am a man of treachery and lechery like any; men were not born to bind —from the poetry section of B Street Books, San Mateo, CA,[…]
- relations
by Nathan Maggard
we need a soft morning hearts pressed in surety black coffees and buttered toast we need a knowing glance feet to dry dirt, or mud face to rising sun, or rain god above or devil below, for pain we need reflection, contrast we need to know we’ve lived so we can die a mourning for an eve we need a gift to give
- a fresh start
by Nathan Maggard
have you made a maker? does he go too far? making his own abominations has he picked your thread? today only fire-sale and flood too two-for-one a turn of the century going out of business sunday special remodel that drab carpet paint your walls anew start fresh with the smell of burnt flesh
- hard forms
by Nathan Maggard
I do not know you a faithful smile disturbs me to be made to love that is no sacrificial alms I am not your Isaac nor you my Abe haunt of my heart low tones and minors rattling kind snake at my wrapped heel what are these? dragged to heaven in a whimper a forest—a forest I seek! then I play your sad voice[…]
- dark daughters
by Nathan Maggard
when there’s nothing for us no place to busy mens’ hands full-time moralists, protestors gazers to the Dream-State when our bubbles of bliss surface what will mankind birth next? too fearsome a dream to dream: the dreamless one, the dead-eyed child in line our daughters will march us for our own stupefied ‘good’ when there’s nothing more for us upon our heads, the hood.
- some men
by Nathan Maggard
some men find no passion no sanguine servitude worth worry it is from a hollow place come prophecy the deepest and saddest luster profit of prophets a stained ore of starvation and guilt from gorging come the love of hunger tip of the sword of Christ ah, here is that blood more sacred than woman, and bread here is that cardinal on my shoulder[…]
- ex novo
by Nathan Maggard
man is a heartbeat from nothing a snake for a tongue lion for a father eating his young a tribe however many in permanent rebellion moral slave and slaver heaven’s own hellion
- stoned liar
by Nathan Maggard
I cannot give you a house perhaps neither a home but on whim and whimsy a dancing word a shining hollow stone stacking ever subtly each glance the mirror trace till age and ire and truth stack up my stoned and hollow face
- a haunt
by Nathan Maggard
I sought but did not find it Or if I did I lost my way So court the muse keeping steady Or from your path she’ll stray I find nothing here is for me Every road ambivalent Shiftless drifting standing still A starving decadent Dig and fill in brittle soil In fertile fear young hands recoil Once shadow shade the break of day I[…]
- homo temporatum
by Nathan Maggard
whose game is this we’re batting forth and back a’round loving, lying naming, dying heaping bones on hallowed ground pebbles plied to turning tire as history’s wheel mow down merrily we the muck of god a brief crushing and a sound
- recursed
by Nathan Maggard
rain and sun are of all we speak of rock and man through whom they peek wearing their weather in crack and crown we rise and reign just to burn and drown
- the spare change dance
by Nathan Maggard
plough under the lazy man till him to the soil sow his sinew to the worms but spare me, the prophet the poet of toil for on the word the world turns
- rei triste
by Nathan Maggard
is this our final morning if we knew, surely we’d mourn lichen singing silent peaceable hymns in tune with the sergeant cardinal they who know no number who count not the days save the tired squirrel squirreling his away hungry we are for the morning feasting on the morrow man, the lonely animal who sees and seeds his sorrow
- defiance
by Nathan Maggard
will maketh man a ‘no’ against the tide defiant god unto his gods while on their wake he ride for passage save in thankful sacrifice with trembling hand this willing man call upon these gods twice
- goo of god
by Nathan Maggard
once, we were all believers and now? unchained ships at sea drunken, decadent, amoral straining to believe now, in ourselves now, in our course too stupid to be sad too numb for fear broken vessels oozing kings’ blood overflowing goo of god beaming eyes aglow gold and leaden tears a-flow blind to the miracle we are negligent daughters, usurperous sons pompei, pompei, pompei satan[…]
- state of the state
by Nathan Maggard
mediocrity disdains competence the state loves the faggot dependence is power independence, contagion confusion, stability sickness, assurance largess, brittle bureaucracy, robust god, cheapened honesty, derided war, profit prophecy, dangerous peace, abomination incest, the hidden rule health, hated the Jew, an unknowing debtor the German, a blind blaze the American, a proud slave God, distantly dying Science, ever the shy sword the politician, a loud[…]