[Newspoetry] 2 newspoems

[Geoffrey Kurtz]

Held in Fire

Facing time
and lighting it on fire with a match,
you're surprised,
a little sad.

I was sick
at the time,
wearing handcuffs and blue-jean overalls--
and I have two granddaughters there.

You're upset.
You're angry.
She had grown angry,
hard-working, dedicated.

The letter:
barely above a whisper.
What good it that going to do?
There ain't nothing I can do.

$1,485 a month--
well, I am mad.

A dream job despite the pressures,
the substance of which is not known.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/18/national/18FIRE.html





Cut-Up Haiku

American rules
during interrogations
limit their powers


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/18/international/asia/18STAN.html