Two Poems from the Sixties

THE MAN

As he lay upon his bed
More alive than less than dead
And felt the waves rise to his head
He felt the blessed agony of the weary body.
And the soft white of the walls
Of the cabin near the falls
And the animals and their calls
And the blessed agony of the weary body.
A thousand fields lay plowed
A man lies weak and proud
A thousand thens are nowed
To the blessed agony of the weary body.

A NIGHT IN JAIL

The shriek of the bells
Drunks in their cells
Cries of "Oh Hell!"
Night time in jail.
Arizona cries out
"My cigarette's out!"
The jailer man shouts
"I'll throw you all out!"
"Where the Hell's Dale?"
Night time in jail.
"Hey Jailer, I'm sick!"
"I'm getting out quick."
"Cold as a brick...."
A deep down wail
Night time in jail.
"Hey Jailer!" "Hey Red!"
"My cell mate is dead!"
"My brain is like lead..."
"Did we get the mail?"
Night time in jail.