Christendom Lost

I love Christendom.

It’s so... quaint.

It’s ok with me being someone that I ain’t

It never asks,

And I never tell,

We never speak anyways, so it’s all just as well.

I don’t ask for anything,

So it’s ok that they’re not giving.

Everyone just wants to make themselves a little better and, perhaps, to make a living.

It doesn’t require anything from me,

And I, in turn, am not dependent

It embodies my heart’s two most comfortable words-- irresponsible and resplendent.

It reminds me when I’m out,

About being eloquent and benevolent

And how, “young man, if you can master these, character is... irrelevant.”

This, kind of makes sense-

Since it’s what you are when no one’s around

They never are-- are they? How many bodies properly congregate in this “town?”

It’s like a social club,

But with eternal benefits

And a leader who’s evidently more concerned with being a “homey” than a Prince

It talks about helping others

And that’s what I’m about

I may not act, but I’ll converse, demand, amend by-laws and shout.

And that’s good enough for them

In fact, they love “enough”

Any action or concern beyond this point demands sacrifice and that’s too much.

Unless the task is to consume,

Like me, they always need new things

Again, like me, they love the feeling of pride and status that they bring.

They feign simplicity

And that, my friends, is immune to scrutiny

Oh, rebuke! Matthew 7:3 presents infallible logic preventing thee.

This organization is built

In just such and such a way,

That even leaders are not called upon to verify the things they say.

So who would care-

About little old me?

I have so perfected this system now, I’m impossible to see.

If I'm honest with my self,

All of this is of human cause,

Alive at the hands of those who don't love, respect, or ultimately, obey the Law.

Patrick C. Arbo (2006)

Kicking It Up A Notch

How has it all come to this?
Only a few minutes ago, we were sitting amicably in our automobiles, lumbar braced-
Staring at the stop signs-- seemingly paying attention-- when in fact there was no retention taking place
Adults doing adult things,
There was Mrs. White Intrigue, telling someone, over her cell phone, something mysterious and never-ending-
There was Mr. Maroon Mustang, he needs a fast car to chase after what he's spending-
There was Mr. Hunter Green Hummer, a middle aged man trapped in endless summers, single-he is to big to share a space and that's a bummer-
There was Mrs. Pale Green Soccer Mom Minivan SUV XL/LX/SA; the car, my friend, does everything and I assure you so do they-
There was young Pansy Yellow Beetle bug; advertising cheer leading, Mr. Pop Radio, and hugs.
There was Mr. Pimp-Purple Pick-up truck; banging ungodly music at similar volumes, just my luck-
There was Mr. Black Sedan, driven by either the mafia or the man-
And Little old Magenta Cadillac, a rolling potential heart attack.
There was Mrs. Mini-Cooper hauling grand-babies and being a trooper.
There was Young Diablo Lamburghini, not as cool as you'd think, in fact a weenie.
There was Mrs. Oldsmobile Alero giving the eyes to the trailing Mr. Mitsubishi Montero
But nobody was looking at lights or arrows,
the turns they were making-- direitas and esquerdas
So all of the folks hit that intersection
With not but the least bit of common inspection
And they all met in the middle with honks and screeching
Yelling, screaming, cursing and preaching.
Mr. Blue Ford Ranger, though, avoided all danger,
He just sat back and watched-- a little victory notched
All of that hustle, their destination no nearer-
He chuckled, pulled a u-ey and left them all in his mirror.

A Small Sampling of Recent Attempts II

Composed in a Chappel (11/12/2006)
I walked, some days ago-
Among the stones of the old.
Each and every one was smooth and hard.
And, also, everyone was cold.

Patrick C. Arbo (2006)

Lamont St.
What kind of person are you?
Though it matters not in the least.
What matters is your destination,
Are you headed West or East?

Are you just passing through,
Or do you, instead, intend to tarry?
Poor soul- are you sad and blue,
or, dear friend, are you merry?

Are you joining me from another me?
I am only one of many.
Are you in need, oh traveler ye?
Well then by all means take a penny.

I can not help but give,
But then again, I recieve in the very same manner.
I listen as you bark into your phones,
And hear all your tireless banter.

Am I no longer recognized?
Do I no longer exist?
You abuse me with litter, filth and toxins
What of this behavior, Guest?

Why not appreciate me?
My oaks of noble stature,
My shady nooks and crannies,
My meticulous architecture.

My big front yards,
My sidewalks,
My acorn and branch clogged drains.
Which try and try,
With all their might,
To envelope the lovely rains.

I know one day,
When it's too late,
You'll come on back around.
Not to sensibility,
Or community decency,
But to visit "that other part of town."

Patrick C. Arbo (2006)

A Small Sampling of Recent Attempts

Shade

There is a tree,
Outside a window,
Beside the builing,
And in the quad.

And a figure,
Steady lingers,
Raking fingers,
Through the sod.

And when I look,
Up from my book,
Through the tintsy nook,
Of the metal blinds.

He looks my way,
Now every day,
A one action play,
Before my eyes.

And so I glance,
To the East or West,
Or back to my test,
One cannot stare...

At an apparition,
At a spirit,
At a man,
Who isn't there.
Patrick C. Arbo(2006)



"we. I--You. You saw the brightness
of pain. Ambition. We give in to the lie
of beauty in the step of creating.
Make lies to live in. I mean you. Held
yourself in animal suffering.
You made your history. Of Pain."
(Lines 20:26 "Ode to Jackson Pollock")

A response, in kind, to Michael McClure's Ode to Jackson Pollock. 1961. (As printed in the Norton Anthology of Postmodern American Poetry. (Pp.256) Ed. Paul Hoover.

No to Jackson Pollock

Bollocks to Pollock
Would a kind soul find this man a brush
I am not impressed or vexed by splashing
Pouring or flicking randomly and such.

If art is a dance,
Then to what music does he move?
As if high art was being spastic,
Or merely getting in the groove.

No, I should hope for more,
Talent is supposed to set apart and challenge.
Filter- out- want-to-bes...
Leave imposters in the balance.

I can do what Jackson does,
I could create for King or Queen.
One of the greatest American Artists ever,
Who, really, never painted a thing.
Patrick C. Arbo (2006)

The Two Hour One O'Clock

So I set my clocks back an hour last night, for the whole daylight-savings-extravaganza-blowout-one-night-only-blah blah blah. I tacked all that madness onto the end of the proper name because that is precisely what every single T.V. personality broadcasted post-10pm has done for the last however-so-many days. Evidently these "merchants" believe that there are at least a respectable number of Americans who wish to pursue buying a new vacuum, messageing chair, or even vehicle between the hours of midnight and 2am? Why would they stay open until 2 am? I know the answer and I'll give it to you: Daylight Savings Time. I kind of hate setting the clocks back. I mean to say that I pretty much loathe doing it. What if you forget? Also, if you are like me, then there are near a thousand or so, possibly two thousand, clocks to be wound back. I feel like I'm messing with the Power that is, and so far beyond me, when I tap the buttons backward. It feels, to me, the same as what being really huge and having the ability to flick a planet out of orbit would feel like. I mean if you think about it, you are altering time by adjusting your life and habits. By being willing to sleep an extra hour, you are producing, creating one within time. In our zeal for more time in which to multi-task and be productive, but never relish, we figured out a few years back that we should just change time to fit our needs. Now I realize that it wasn't really your (unless you are FDR and if you are we have bigger issues to here discuss) decision to initiate this system, but don't we all complacently comply with it? I realize that it has done some good: it contributed to the success of America in wartime, it gives more time for physical activity in the outdoors, and bolsters local communities with increased shopping and commerce. Are we still observing this ritual, and that is precisely what it is, because of the war in Iraq? Let's be honest, no one is really treating this war at all like they treated WWII, if they were around. I wasn't around, and I am basing the aforementioned opinion on what little study I've done on the subject. That is all that is needed, even if it isn't all that is desired. And aren't we spending enough on Christmas already? As if people in the United States needed another reason to go spend money on things they don't need. I can't get on board with the physcial activity thing either, because I don't know anyone getting any thinner. People aren't using the extra hour for "starting to work out again" or "getting back in shape." On the contrary, we are producing new dramas and reality shows to give people something to do with this time. I started taking my daily jog at dusk just to see what the deal was, and I swear I havn't seen so much as an ant running in Johnson City after dinner at the jogging hot-spots. So, why are we still fiddling with time? Imagine the consequences if you flicked a planet out of order. Why would you set your watch back? There are some senators that want to EXTEND DST(as it is often refferred to) so that kids can trick or treat in the daylight. This of course produced a collective sigh throughout the adolescent community, who realized their days of care-free toilet paper slinging and festive egg tossing were numbered. Should we really be able to fiddle with time, so that Halloween can be properly and safely observed? Next year we'll have four Super Bowls at seven different 9:00pms on whatever day that thing is played on. Did you know that if someone had killed me last night at the place of my employment, and they did it between the hours of last week's 1 and 2am, that they would've gotten away with it. If the police came looking for evidence they would not have been able to find an hour that existed, but was not accounted for by our security camera system. That freaked me out, and messing with time freaks me out and I wish we'd stop the whole shebang.

I did set my clock back though, if you want to know the truth.

Shall we?