March 16 Poem by RIC BASTASA

Patty it is your birthday
and i am suppose to greet you

happy birthday, but i didn't
i change my mind
after all what can i give you
what can i say to you?

your son stepped into the abyss
between darkness and another darkness
he is maimed and cannot say a word to you

your husband's left eye got blinded
with a smirk of boiling oil
and there is no sense arguing what recklessness caused it
who pays for the damage done
where to go and be justified
the scales do not function well these darkest day of the year

your daughter plunged herself into the calendar days of the law
and she has no time with you
(did she greet you a happy birthday?)
how many husbands have she wasted?
she did not like kids i know and you love kids so much

time snobs you and you ask what have you done to its wings
to deserve its sharp claws?
i have no answers Patty, i am too preoccupied with so many theories
about the roots of sorrow
the branches of fear
the poisonous barks of injustice

good luck Patty have another year
make is saucy, try some beer, have a little smoke
they may cure your cancer.

Life is a sad novel Patty
and it will take some more years before it is finished.