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   ** March 17, 2009, "Poetry of Resistance" Reading (Sponsored
  by the Activist Poets' Roundtable, NYC).

  Watch the video on YouTube (Click Here).

  FEBRUARY BEACH

  I visit
  on a day when the dunes
  are traveling.  

  Everywhere I look
  there is a fog of sand
  blowing from the peaks
  as they shift. At my feet
  individual grains stumble along,
  close to the earth (bumping
  into others, more rigidly fixed
  or else (gaining even
  the slightest elevation) whip
  past at the speed-of-wind.  
 
  If there is a god,
  who tracks each particle
  (as I have been told) she must
  have an infinite mind indeed.  

  The plan was for twenty minutes
  or, perhaps, half an hour
  to walk along this shore,
  let the surf and spray know
  that there is one human being
  who cares enough to visit
  on an off-season day.
  I discover, however,
  that I can barely remain
  in one place
  without being blown over,
  decide walking
  would be a bad idea.  

  Either going
  or coming
  would have to be
  in the wrong direction.  

  And so, after spending some time
  in standing contemplation
  I return to the spot where sand
  gives way to pavement
  look back, surprised
  to discover no trace
  of footprints left earlier,
  watch as those just engraved
  grow less distinct with each
  passing moment, decide
  it would be best
  to leave now,  

  before I am obliterated
  completely.  
        

 

 
                                      The Time I Stopped to Watch
                New collection of poems by Steve Bloom Now available
                                         (Click here for information)
                                                                

  NEW YEAR, GAZA, 2008/2009  

  Call out the names of the dead
  so that we may mourn.
              Call out the names 
              of the dead.  

  Call out the names
  of their killers
  so that we may rage
  as we mourn.
              Call out the names
              of their killers.                                     
                                                                        Photo by Carl Lawrence
  Call out the names
  of those who march in protest
  so that we may give thanks
  as we rage
  and mourn
              Call out the names
              of those who march in protest  

  Call out the names "Peace,"
  "Justice," "Freedom," "Palestine"
  so that we may hope
  as we give thanks,
  rage,
  and mourn.
              Call out the names
              "Peace," "Justice,"
              "Freedom," "Palestine"  

  And when the time has come
  to call out the names
  of all who remain silent
  as we are calling out these names
  let us pray that yours
  will not be among them.  
  

                Click here for link to archive of previous home pages
                                        2008                      2009

  ** TRIBUTE TO MAHMOUND DARWISH presented at the Alwan Center for
  the Arts in NYC on September 24, 2008 (Click Here).

  ** ACTIVIST POET'S ROUNDTABLE—NEW YORK : the second Sunday of
  every other month. Next Roundtable: February 8. (Click Here for
  More Information.)

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