IT’S THE RAGE
“A Trump Supporter” by Ralph Dranow, “The Sobbing” by Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser, “Poseur” by Devon Balwit
A TRUMP SUPPORTER
by Ralph Dranow
ANGRY POET. SUMMER 2008. From a cycle “ART FAIR AND ITS INHABITANTS” Print by Yuri Kachkin Ukraine
*
"Why do you like Trump?" I ask. It's his first term. Bill's pale forehead furrows, bespectacled eyes twin fires. "He's a strong leader and a successful capitalist. I happen to like capitalism." After a poetry reading at night, we're drinking beer in a pizza parlor, amidst a hum of conversation and clatter of glasses and dishes. We go on talking politics, our voices civil despite disagreeing on every issue. But troubled, I wonder: How can a nice, intelligent guy like Bill, who's treated me tonight, embrace a monster like Trump? We part, shaking hands, like two diplomats from countries somewhat wary of each other, neither friend or foe. Later, at home, a detective in search of clues, I reread Bill's poetry book, and some of the lines cry out to me, like forlorn children: "Rage burns deeply inside me. It always has." "Alone and miserable. Maybe I deserve it." Politics fades away. My heart opens its gates, as I give Bill a long distance hug.
*
Ralph Dranow is an editor and poetry teacher.
*
THE SOBBING
by Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser
My father awoke one Saturday
and died as fast
as though a bomb had fallen.
There was no bomb, only
the rogue rhythm
of his heart.
Our anguish seems so pure now,
the sobbing all turned inward.
Did we understand the gift
we had been given,
to grieve without rage
or horror,
without the knowledge that
honed malice
had crushed beloved flesh?
Would that there were a tonic
to suck out the venomous rage
of war, to leave the heartbreaks of life
untainted,
a balm…*
Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser is a visual artist and poet in New Jersey. Her art has been exhibited locally and regionally; she has had poems published in Kelsey Review and on The New Verse News. After a 43-year career working in educational assessment, she is happy to be able to dig deeper into both media.
*
POSEUR
by Devon Balwit
*
Today, I’m much struck by a phrase in the news and try it out—“I demand your unconditional surrender!”— my finger on the trigger, a lit match by the fuse. Like magic, it aligns differing views. (Backed by troops and gelignite, no wonder!) I’m much struck by this phrase from the news. “Bring me tribute,” I add, “your children, booze!” and suddenly, my house dazzles with gilt-y splendor. My finger on the trigger, a lit match by the fuse, my cup runneth over with oily ooze. I down glass after glass, a drunk on a bender, spurred on by this phrase I pulled from the news. Outside, the sky purples to the shade of a bruise. Let lesser men hide. I now live for thunder, my finger on the trigger, a lit match by the fuse. As if on a pulpit staring down at the pews, I fulminate, my creed’s best defender, completely transformed by this phrase from the news, my finger on the trigger, a lit match by the fuse.
*
When not making art, Devon Balwit walks in all weather and edits for Asimov Press, Asterisk Magazine, and Works in Progress.
The editor apologizes for posting these poems at Substack six hours before they appear at TheNewVerse.News itself. 🤷 But he does not apologize for the poems. They are great.
Powerful work. I appreciate you sharing these today.