The Many Faces of Poetry: November Poems
Posted: November 26, 2021 Filed under: Poetry, The Many Faces of Poetry | Tags: Arthur Rosch, Poetry, The Many Faces of Poetry, Words, Writing to be Read 1 Comment
Volcano
October 2021
If words can be so beautiful that they
whoosh you from your body
into a place celestial
a paradise that’s not a myth
but a living world inside which
we dwell as though we have forgotten our own
eyes and our stomachs rumble
waiting for a meal that nurtures souls
by the trillions,
by the trillions, and what we call souls or spirits
can be called ghosts or intelligences
or French fries
no telling what they’re calling them ten billion light years from here.
It’s the same damned thing
so bright that it lights the stars
as if from the eternal birthday candle
or the scattering of cinders from a cooling volcano
filling a lake bed with red light and heat light
and heat
sustenance light. That’s how beautiful
words can be.
Late Stage Capitalism
Oct 20, 2021
Is this late stage capitalism?
People watching endless commercials disguised
as content, watching hypnotized
as the reasons to stay home multiply Covid
the madhouse of freedom, that’s America
where Freedom is ridiculous
and everyone’s opinion
matters, such a big deal, (your opinion)
I can give you a break, (I can I can), I can let you
go on about nothing, walk the streets with a sign
saying nothing, late stage capitalism
manipulated and focused greed,
through the screens, on the devices
helpless to disengage (what am I doing?)
late stage
helpless to engage (I’m doing this is what I’m doing)
capitalism, schism, minimism, monism
monetism, hypnotism, religionism
late stage catechism
I’ve run out of ism, run out of my ism, don’t even say it
cuz I’m old and getting older at the same speed as
everyone else.
This is late stage capitalism.
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Arthur Rosch is a novelist, musician, photographer and poet. His works are funny, memorable and often compelling. One reviewer said “He’s wicked and feisty, but when he gets you by the guts, he never lets go.” Listeners to his music have compared him to Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Randy Newman or Mose Allison. These comparisons are flattering but deceptive. Rosch is a stylist, a complete original. His material ranges from sly wit to gripping political commentary.
Arthur was born in the heart of Illinois and grew up in the western suburbs of St. Louis. In his teens he discovered his creative potential while hoping to please a girl. Though she left the scene, Arthur’s creativity stayed behind. In his early twenties he moved to San Francisco and took part in the thriving arts scene. His first literary sale was to Playboy Magazine. The piece went on to receive Playboy’s “Best Story of the Year” award. Arthur also has writing credits in Exquisite Corpse, Shutterbug, eDigital, and Cat Fancy Magazine. He has written five novels, a memoir and a large collection of poetry. His autobiographical novel, Confessions Of An Honest Man won the Honorable Mention award from Writer’s Digest in 2016.
More of his work can be found at www.artrosch.com
Photos at https://500px.com/p/artsdigiphoto?view=photos
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Writing to be Read 
These are great poems, Art, especially the second one. I also often question where we are as a society.
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