Bitter Cold Nights (1969)

poem by: Q. Ramirez
Written on Jun 10, 2016

On this cold nocturnal hour
Earth transcends beyond the dust of man
-  and Project Homes like these
Crickets chirp their monotonous chirrup sung in cold darkness
Dogs whimper and howl as ambulance sirens are heard in the distance 
On this frigid night an innocence of evil is dominant
No players are out tonight leading to no hollow sepulchers
-  in Government Project Homes like these
Tonight there are no desires to play due the bitter cold
Only nightmares transform sleep into knife-play or gun-play
Loss of faith leads to a deicide as vespertinal hours descend
But not tonight
-  not upon these project homes
Tonight happiness has a lugubrious melancholy
The debacled creation of these elongated two story buildings
Looked upon the orange-red bricks with dark tears
The only thing bitter is the poet the cold
-  and these Government project homes    

 

Tags: anger, dark,

Add Comment


Theresa Taylor commented:
Wow! U just described my neighborhood.... Better than me!
Theresa Taylor commented:
Wow! U just described my neighborhood.... Better than me!
Q. Ramirez commented:
I grew up in the Magnolia projects in Galveston, then moved to Elmer Scott projects in Dallas, then to South Oak Cliff, Dallas. I am describing my neighborhood. Poverty is the same anywhere. Thanks Taylor.
Christopher Russon commented:
Lovely poem.I remember the winter of 69. A bad one worldwide I believe.

 

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