Curved Space & the More Delicate Times

By James P Kain

Poetry is a journey into mysterious realms at the borders of reason and imagination. I am drawn by the misty places between worlds, between the public outer world of shared and common experience and the private inner world of personal vision and intimation. There I look for some uncommon but universal piece of the puzzle that joins our isolated souls. Somewhere beneath the surface, behind the faade, in the borderlands is a ribbon of truth, as elusive as it is essential. To get a glimpse of it I have to sleep with my eyes open, waken within the dream, believe nothing Ive been told, and walk the dark night with an expectation of miracles. With every breath I feel one coming on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 7, 2009
• ISBN: 9781469101729

James P Kain

James P. Kain teaches English and creative writing at Neumann University in Aston, PA. He is the author of three collections of poetry and one novella, and hes had his writing published in numerous regional and national publications. He lives in Glen Riddle, PA with his wife, Helen, and daughter, Cara.

Book preview

Curved Space

&

the More Delicate Times

Poems by

James P. Kain

Copyright © 2009 by James P. Kain.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Acknowledgments 

Kitchen Diversions

~

A Sampling of Curious Taste 

   Tuesday night 

Ed makes coffee (while shooting darts) 

Tea 

Logic 

Fishbones 

Jazz 

Distractions 

It isn’t the logic 

Such a tragedy 

Sickness 

   . . . and healing 

Planted in spring 

Rain 

On the kitchen table 

Dave’s yard tour 

Metamorphosis for sneakers 

A conundrum of proverbs 

February 9th in parts & pieces 

La belle dame sans coffee 

Gradyville, 3:02am, 1979 

(I beg pardon, I urge refusal) 

Street scavenger 

An uprising stirs the macadam 

What role chameleon author? 

A sad day indeed 

At the sound of the glass bead 

Essential 

Out of the Kitchen & Into the Woods 

Camping, day 1 

Camping, day 2 

Camping, day 3 

Beyond the mark—target shooting 

Camping, day 4 

Beyond the mark—the final shot 

I remember the worms—#1 

The new earth 

I remember the worms—# 2 

Tree and vine 

Cocoon 

Having not trimmed my Swedish ivy 

On trimming my Swedish ivy 

The ivy in November 

In moving the ivy 

Cold 

A gesture 

Keeping vigil 

Leaving the city 

Strangeness & Charm

~

Toying with Time & Space 

As midnight brings the morning 

Bring full the sail 

What you are fishing for 

Whose hands turn the moon? 

This thin veneer 

. . . then I came upon a window 

The spinning gyres 

Strangeness and charm 

Dominoes 

Curved space and the more delicate times 

The history of utopia 

What laws are in these walls 

On my 27th birthday 

A revelation upon a disappointment 

Falling out of love 

The lake in winter 

You’ll know it’s time 

Aun apprendo (I’m still learning) 

Firefly at twilight 

Seeing 

Acknowledgments 

This collection is dedicated to the memory and spirit of Dave McCormick (1954-1999), a friend, collaborator, instigator and sounding board for much of the work here. He was a phenomenally creative person who excelled at everything he put his mind and hands to. His presence was and continues to be an inspiration to me. My purpose for putting this book together is to honor and complete something special that we began long ago. It is my responsibility to keep the spirit alive.

Also by the Author

Coming to My Senses: A Collection of Poetry (Xlibris, 2008)

Sweet Tempo: An American Romance (Xlibris, 2009)

Cover photo ~ Curved Space

by James P. Kain

The poems In Moving the Ivy and Curved Space & the More Delicate Times have appeared in my collection: Coming to My Senses

Kitchen Diversions

~

A Sampling of Curious Taste 

In the late seventies and early eighties I lived with a few friends in a house in Gradyville, PA. The house was situated about 10 feet from the road, Edgmont Avenue (Route 352).