Tanning on Dangerous Beaches

By Dr. Jack A. Apsche

In what will be his final book of poetry, renowned psychologist and poet Jack Apsche writes, "Cancer has changed me." In this remarkable collection, we experience the many ways that incurable cancer has, indeed, changed this gifted poet—even changing the deep scars of survival in Vietnam. Facing the end of life, Jack's poems shout out with urgency and pure honesty, yielding a bouquet of clarity, wisdom and humor that both touches and enlightens. If truth uttered before its time is dangerous, Tanning on Dangerous Beaches is downright treacherous, and quite simply, beautiful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ePrinted Books
• Release date: Aug 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311436054

Dr. Jack A. Apsche

Jack A. Apsche holds a doctorate in Psychological Studies from Temple University in Philadelphia. He is currently pursuing an advanced degree in Criminal Justice. Dr. Apsche is a researcher, author, lecturer, and consultant His curiosity in human behavior extends well beyond serial killers, from the everyday problems of everyday people, to the particular problems of Viet Nam veterans, the behavior of organized crime and law enforcement, and the rise of the German neo-Nazi movement His research centers on the quest to uncover the reasons for the behavior differences between the ‘saints,” the “sinners,” and the rest of us.Dr. Apsche lives with his wife and family in West Virginia. USA

Book preview

Tanning on

Dangerous Beaches

by

Dr. Jack A Apsche

Published by ePrintedBooks

Smashwords Edition

Copyrights by ePrintedBooks

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

Dedicated to:

Jerry Jennings, a friend, a mensch, a brother,

and gentle spirit, who is always there

no matter what stupid shit I say or do.

Contents 177 Poems

The Circle of Life - Poems 1-15

Crossfire - Poems 16 - 30

Our Harry - Poems 31 - 45

At Fort Dix - Poems 46 - 60

Insanity - Poems 61 - 75

Erotic sabbatical - Poems 76 - 90

Philly loves - Poems 91 - 105

Morrison - Poems 106 - 120

Turbulence - Poems 121 - 135

Heidnik blues - Poems 136 - 150

The eyes of CNN - Poems 151 - 165

Vibrations - Poems 166 - 177

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The Circle of Life

Sit quietly

Listen to

The rhythm

And

Music of

Silence

Find your

Center

And your

Warm soul

Or feelings

Circle of

Life

And focus

Quietly

Breathe

Slowly

And let

Yourself

Find your

Essence

Before your

Life stories

And

Experiences

Pollute your

Pure being

Stay focused

Quietly

As you

Slowly inhale

Then

Exhale and

Allow yourself

To see and

Feel the

Purity of

Yourself

Before the

Stains of

Human life

Tainted the

Birth you

Stay centered

In this

Moment and

Feel and

Experience your

Life force as

It really

Is and

You can feel

The light and

Strength of

Your glow

Of

Humanity

Stay with

Yourself

And breathe...

You will know

When to

Let go

And come

Back to

Your human

Self and

Your existence

Can be forever

Changed knowing

The real

Essence of

You never

Changed

Since your birth

And is

Always

Accessible

To you

Jack

I am

He

The Jack

Of speed

Like the

Legion

Says

He changed

Lost weight

Seems tense

Hair triggered

Never sleeps

A one way

Rider

To the

Grave yard

Screeching

And clawing

With a

Priapism

And a vault

Of tasteless

Porn

Still worn

But not

Out

But maybe

Dead

While moving

Fast

He is

Me

The Jack

Of speed

Never landing

Always

Crashing

Never happy

Never sad

Feeling good

Like a

Warm stream

Of high

With no

Mind

And never

Mind

Until death

Or sober

Then death

Anyway

Like no

Longer the

Jack of

Speed

Maybe Jack

Maybe not

So

What then

Was a ride

Was high

Wire fun

Just not

Real

But some

Truth

I think?

Goodbye Ray

"When the

Music's over

Turn off the

Lights" is

All we need to

Know about

Life and

Death

For as long

As the music's

Playing we

Still are breathing

And feeling

And life is

Flowing thru

Your veins

Like a speed

Rush of

Exhilaration

And ecstasy

Roll of

Excitation

At a rave

In our minds

And body

And feelings

Of weightlessness

That only

Ceases when

The music is

Over and

The lights

Are turned

Out by

Nature or

God or

Allah or

Buddha or

Jesus

Or the end

Of our

Individual

Evolution

As the music

Ends as

Does life

Goodbye Ray

Pray

Often people

Ask people

To pray

For them

Or others

Or justice

Or

Truth or

Help for

Our fellow

Humans who

Are experiencing

The depths

Of this here

Human condition

It is a worthy

And often might

Even be helpful

In some way

But don't ask me

Please

Not that I

Am too

Busy or too

Important or

Even too

Smart

It is just if

I pray for

You or your

Cause or

Your health

Or

Your wealth

Or even

Your life

You are

Simply fucked

Cause usually

When I

Want or pray

For anything

The opposite

Will most

Likely happen

And you

Will either

Die

Get sick

Or loose

Your shit

Do you still

Want me

To help and pray

For you?

Hmmm

Tornados

Tornados

Do not

Discriminate

Because of

Age

Neither child or

Adult

Race or

Gender or

Political party

Sexual preference

Or

Size of

Your individual

Portfolio

Not even

Religion or

Prayer or

God or

Allah or

Your graduate

Education at

Harvard or

Even an

Online university

Can save your

Ass from

An f-5

Tornado

With or

Without

Matching federal

Funds

Cool

I was once

Cool

A long time

Ago

I was once

Handsome

A long time

Ago

I was once

Crazy

A long time

Ago

And

I was once

Relevant

A long time

Ago

Looking

If you’re looking

For me

I might be with

My personal trainer

Or

My yoga instructor

Or my

Life coach

Or my

Therapist

Or my

Personal shopper

Or spiritual advisor

Or masseuse

Or my family

Therapist

Who might

Be talking to

My marriage

Counselor

Perhaps

I could just

Be sitting

By myself

Cause

All these people

Are just

Disguising as

Real people

Or even

Friends except

I don't have

Any friends as

I am too

Busy with

These assholes

Truth

When I seek

Truth

In anything

Where do I

Begin

The Bible

The Koran

In my head

Or heart

Television

My smart

Phone or

My poems

Buddha

Priest

I looked on

Twitter and

Facebook

I listen to

Reporters and

Intellectuals