Parnassus: Selected Writings and Poems

By Markus Vossi

Each book contains its own message, thematic expression, and overall effect. This book of selected poems and writings are based on experiences, observations, and moments of realization. Ultimately, this book is a small anthology of human experience from the eyes of a simple and trained observer of human and inhuman nature. Naturally with poetry, one can’t produce the printed word void of feeling. In spirit and intent, this volume of writing is meant to awaken something inside our brains, our sodden lumber of flesh, and of course, our immovable spirit.

Expression is our dispensation of talents, beliefs, and self-appointed choices. It may be said this book of poetry is raw, unconventional, and is made of ramblings of yet another man—all of which contains truth in its own right as with truth comes its final resting place.

This book of poetry is a valiant attempt to experiment with the word and breakthrough any mechanical restrictions that are inherent in the English language. We are all language artists.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984547088

Markus Vossi

Currently, I am an English Teacher at a high school in Northern California. My beginnings in life were being raised by my grandmother in a small rural town called Oroville California. It was during my childhood did I find out that language was a instrumental tool in navigating life and all of its slippery and sometimes vexatious moments. During my childhood I had been a resident of two foster homes. Despite what many of my elementary teachers saw of my personage I persevered and kept a positive attitude towards all movement forward. Hence, the quest for true north. In the years subsequent my formative years, I began training in various arts. I have studied various types of arts and disciplines: Kenpo, Wing-Chun, Jeet-Kune-Do, Wrestling, American Boxing, and Bujinkan. It was always a quest to grow, develop, and strengthen the mind, body, and spirit. Such as it was, it still continues. One of the most important lessons I learned in my studies is the importance of knowing thy self. This includes the deep knowledge of the true inner-self. One may be surprised where Satori begins. Put simple…it begins now and will forever. You may recognize me, I am the man that is in the corner of the restaurant, back to the wall, eating by himself and enjoying each bite and sip of lemon water. I am the man at the red light when you turn to your right gives you a subtle and reassuring nod. I am the man walking with children and harnessing the raw power and delight of imagination with immovable enthusiasm. Simply the simple man that wrote this bio with his own two hands. As Ever, Markus Alexander Vossi

Book preview

CONTENTS

Introduction

I. RAINCOAT FOR THE VENERATED ARSONIST

Rising

A Bad Impression

A Familiar Type

A Gift for the Harbor

A January Evening

A Priest in my Pajamas

A Saturday

A Stone Holding a Map In Place

Ancestral Stew

Ascension and Scrambled Eggs

Ballad of Two Men and a Gail

Blackberries from the Vine through a Barbed Wire Fence

Bottle Returned

Bread for the Mind

Certificate for Satori

Countervailing Winds, Trends, and Measures

Courtroom Vacancy

Disarm the Stars

Dismantling Dusk

Dry River and Driftwood Winnings

Early Moon

Eternal Movement

Fall is Here

3:48 am February On a Swivel

From Men to Boys

Good to Know

Haggling Horses

Heart of Earth and the Divine

I Want to Paint Something

Indian Hustler

Jars of Magnolia

II. PURPLE FLOWERS FOR JOSETTE

June

Keys of Stone

Letter to an Elusive Evening

Maikus

Neat

News Today

No Jewelry, but Many Fingers

Ode to a Superlative

Ode to Black

Ode to My Chair

Ode to the Pen

Poem for the Disaffected Youth

Get tougher

Private Property

Professor in Prison

Progenitor

Red Handed Holding a Checkered Flag

Reflections of Christmas

Reflections of the Titanic Exhibit

Relationships

Revisiting Without a Bicycle

Breathing December

Rock Soul

Rotten Onion

Sandy Shores

Scavengers of the Weak

Sentimental Sentinel

Shades of Blue

Shiny Objects in a Dark Room

Short Days and Long Poems

Shortly Thereafter

Simply Beautiful

III. SHIGOKI FOR THE BUSHI

Sliding Pole with Swirl

Sour Wine

Specimen in a Shiny Clear Glass Jar

Splintered Fence Post

Storm Blossom

Tea With Children

Test Day Today

That Sound

The Beast on 12th Street

The Coward’s Bullet

The Eve of this Moment

The Lion on my Desk is Just a Fixture

The Most Beautiful Song Ever Written

The New Road

The Rain Outside My Window

The Ring Around the Moon

The Sky has no Regret

The Space outside My Skull

The Teller with Large Breasts

Three Knocks

Thunk in the Night

Time In a Valley

To the One that Created Light

To the Woman Who Brought My Drink and Left Me Dry

Today

Train Essence

Trust Treasure Chest

Water in My Ear

Weathered Sandals

Wet Finger and the Edge of Earth

Winter Vacation

Wolves in California

Writing a Letter

Battle Call to All

I have always found

When digging in a tray of nails and screws

To always grab three more screws

Than you think you need.

If anything,

You have one screw for me

One screw for you

Don’t forget about screw three

Remember the nails

They screwed you too

Poke

A silhouette of a raven

The last cherry blossom of fall

Eyes pass eyes as leaves to flight

INTRODUCTION

I N LITERATURE IT appears there is a ladder at work holding up rung by rung a new generation of writers. This book is a collection of poems selected to show my observations, experiences, and realizations of things along the way. Yet another rung on the ladder. This book is a series of poetry written in a style where I experimented with the word and like all poetry became something in it and of itself.

It was in the spirit of Basho moving his legs on his journey that he came to many a realization and poem. Our movement in life gathers momentum and when the heart is true, our true selves emerge. It must be noted that in the field of human potential and experience, one thing will remain after our lives run its course. This is what we pass on to the next generation.

A special thanks to my brother Joe for being there no matter what the weather. Additionally, my friends who have been there along the way. Brotherhood serves man well as does serving his brother. Honorable thanks to Patty and Randy Frieze for their unwavering kindness and love. It is important to mention my four children Kona, Cruz, Ronin, and Luna for whom have made my life better and all the more meaningful.

May this token for what its worth serve my brothers, sisters, and strangers that will become familiar. The Shinto term Magakoro (true heart) which is sincerity of heart . This sincere attitude of a person in doing his best in the work he has chosen or in his relations with others, thus being the ultimate source of man’s awareness of enlightenment.

As you climb your personal ladder when reading literature, may you find what it is you are looking for.

I.

RAINCOAT FOR THE

VENERATED ARSONIST

RISING

Wolves we gather

In the dark

Branches break

The morning call

The wind gathers

In the corner of

Nature’s bosom

A BAD IMPRESSION

I hit a skunk on the road today,

It was early in the morning

The night sky was shedding its coat

Unavoidable, inevitable, a rank experience meant to be

I saw the glowing marble bounce on the road

Closer, closer, close…

A black mop with streak of white scurrying across the interstate

This is the valley and in it many things move

There is a feeling when one runs over a living animal

An image fills the brain

The brain sends lightning to your guts

A pessimist says, Life stinks, a messy mist says, Death is worse.

Skunks are truly unique with their scent,

In my cab

In my nostrils

My early morning…

Unavoidable

Inevitable

The sun scurries