Poison Pen

By Marc Goldfinger

My first impression was when I peered out the narrow window across from my cell and saw the leaves changing color. Then it hit me. Next year, at this same time, I would be watching the leaves change from this same building. My gut wrenched and I sat down on my bunk. I had a few pieces of paper to begin with and I got down on my knees, using my bunk as a table, and began to write. The noise was overwhelming as the mechanical barred doors hummed open and closed. Two years. For me, it began in Maximum Security because I was seen as a "rabbit", someone who was an escape risk. I had been a fugitive for over two years. When the police came for me, my girl-friend and I jumped from the balcony of our 2nd floor apartment and started to run across a field. We heard a shout, "Stop, you m-----f-----s, or we'll shoot", and we turned. There was a line of cops, all in position, with their guns pointed at us. I used to tell people I hung out with in Portland, Oregon, "I'm not leaving to go back to Massachusetts unless they take me in chains." And they did. That was how this book began.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marc Goldfinger
• Release date: Mar 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458069726

Marc Goldfinger

Born last century in a city hospital. I've been writing since grade school but got lost in the 60's, like Dorothy I fell to the Poppies; my detour off the yellow brick road lasted over three decades, just when I thought there was no hope--a miracle happened. When I sold my motorcycle for short money to feed my habit, I knew I was lost. Things got worse. It's in the book. Kicked heroin, cigarettes in that order, went from a bag-man to a happily married home owner, props to Spare Change News, and, while writing poetry decided to share a how-to book with directions back from hell. For counselors, shrinks, and especially for addicts.

Book preview

Word Games

Man

the word beast

living in the shadow

of verbal deciet

So many words

so many ways

to speak

falsely

Truth

takes a beating

daily

in so many words

Do not speak to me

but touch me

in silence

look at me

with Love in your eyes

please say nothing

not right now

I can hear

what you are saying

but I don't know

what you mean

Be silent

I hear no longer

your actions

speak so powerfully

in themselves

Your mouth dances sweetly

but I'm waiting

for you to move.

Visiting Hour

Almost visiting hour.

I wait.

Hoping --

As they call

Numbers.

No names here.

Numbers.

Numbers.

I had a name

Once,

A long time ago.

I was free

Once,

A long time ago.

I knew laughter

Once,

A long time ago.

I saw you

Once,

A long time ago.

They call numbers,

But not mine.

No number.

No name.

No visit.

I can't laugh in the mist.

A Love Poem

When I think

of how I put out

for you

and then see

what you do

for me

It makes me wonder.

Let me ask you

have you ever felt

like just telling

the one you Love

to fuck off

and die?

The Box Step

I cannot dance

to the tune

of the reaper

even the rhythmic

tapping

of my foot

would be too much

to give

I feel the rhythm

and that's enough

to scare me to death

please don't ask

me to dance

not this time.

Notes On Reality

Last night

I took some notes

on reality

and its meaning

for me

And then

for organizational purposes

I put those notes

into a shredder

It all makes sense

to me now.

An Ode To My Probation Officer

Approach and refusal.

Approach and refusal.

I wait

trapped in time.

Steel and stone

penetrate my soul

and you

barren womyn

taught me of society

and what it offers

for me.

In time

these gates will open.

In time

I will be free.

Society will beckon.

It will be my turn

to refuse.

Passing Lane

Hitch-hiking

just another way

to travel

while travelling

down

multi-laned kaleidoscope

highways

both inter and intra

whatever state that is

They slowed down

stopping

or appeared to be

so I hopped in

we're all together

for this ride

Someone asked me

how far I was going

looking at him

or was it her

I replied

To the end

They said

We're not going

that far

I smiled at them

knowingly

and they continued

saying that they

were just looking

for a fuel stop

on this road

And with grim

determination

heavy on the throttle

we hummed along

non-stop

I couldn't bring myself

to tell them

no services

on this road

I'd been looking

for a long time.

High Hopes

Just passin' through this goddam state

And don't ya know it'd be my fate

To get popped with fifteen pounds of grass

Into Worcestor House they placed my ass

All because some bitch dropped a time

Everybody's tokin' but it's still a crime

I was just a merchant but I'm doin' time

In steel and stone, writin' perverted rhyme

You'd think this country would take a tip

And legalize that shit and finally get hip

The weed is here and it's here to stay

Millions are smokin' to brighten up their day

They got red bud, green bud, and Columbian gold

America's lit up, both young and old

People are smokin' all over the street

Even cops are stoned while they walk their beat

I know plenty of farmers growin' that cash crop

And there ain't no