Radio Man
the radio man says
it is all right
to breathe again
the radio man says
it is all right
to live again
the radio man says
it is all right
to go out and
take in the sun
take in the sights and sounds
of this city
the radio man says
take advantage of this
temperate climate
breathe in this
peace-time stillness
the radio man says
you never know
when the next bomb will fall
from the sky
or when the next one
through the door
will blow himself up
you never know
when the next chemical
will react
and we will all have to
wear our masks again
the radio man says
you never know
when the next genocide
ethnic cleansing
state-sponsored
population-control campaign
is going to start
you never know
when another plane will
crash...
the radio man says
this could be his last report
without the word
death...
The radio man says
Stop your digging
The job is done
Officials report
That they covered their tracks
5 and a half years ago
The total count has been tallied
2996
There is nothing left to see there
the radio man says
take advantage of this
temperate climate
and breathe again
the radio man says
our transmission
has been interrupted
our towers are down
this could be the last time
you hear my voice...
Another One Taken
There will be no intermission tonight
this is just a read-through
the curtain is coming down
another show ending
too early
the curtain is coming down
the lights on stage
slowly dimming
dimming
dimming
to permanent darkness
the neon buzz from the marquee fizzles out...silence
the program of the last show
blows across the empty stage
dust kicked up
by the final
curtain call
with the star leaving the stage
his run coming to an end
the show closing
the audience has left the theater
the props are coming down
stagehands hard at work
the star looks on from above it all
balcony...clouds...beyond
knowing
that one day
there will be a revival
of the show
and he will be in the front
but in the meantime
take your bow
great talent
take your bow
you earned it
take your bow
friend...mentor...teacher...brother
take your bow
you will be missed
take your bow
we’ll all be together again soon
Finding God
Neon flickering crucifix
The buzz of electricity
The buzz of the night
Just wearing off
And my sight is coming back
My sense of direction
Sense of balance
Sight—sound—touch
The touch remembered as a child
Memories back
Past as new as early morning stumbling
Sight of that
Neon flickering crucifix
Atop the church down the street
Flashing codes
Flashing lights
Strobing confusion
Hypnotizing
Stumbling again
Toward an intoxicating pull
I walk
Intersection
Salvation—destruction—decision
Intersection
Toward that
Neon flickering crucifix
Dulled by
Sirens and flashing
Emergency lights
But closer I come
I fall at the steps of the church
My search for truth almost over
I open my mouth to speak
But the
Neon flickering crucifix
Fizzles…out
POP!
Where is this God now?
Thom Francis has been a member of the Albany, New York, poetry and spoken word community since the mid ’90s, reading and performing at such venues as Valentine’s, Lark Street Bookshop, Albany Center Gallery, and Night Sky Cafe, and at events like Albany Word Fest and the 2006 LARKfest. He is the president of Albany Poets, an organization whose mission is to increase poetry and spoken-word awareness and activity in the Albany area.
