DENNIS R. KOLAKOWSKI - POEMS

Dennis R. Kolakowski – Poems with art to be published at POETRY  PACIFIC & INDIANA VOICE JOURNAL (only recent submissions other than SCARLET LEAF REVIEW).  Short stories, essays and poetry published throughout the 70’s and 80’s.  Screenplays throughout the past ten years.  Member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, mechanical engineering graduate of Penn State and facilities manager for Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, University of Pittsburgh Applied Research Center and Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.  Please see www.sleepingdragonproductions.com.

---

Artist: Professor Emeritus, Charles W. “Bud” Gibbons, III – Please see www.budgibbons.com.

---

Fastback
 
 8” x 20”
Oil on Canvas
by
Bud Gibbons
from the collection of the artist
 

 
Fastback
 
 
I rode shotgun that night
when a teenage tornado
mooned the fast-food parking lot
from the backseat,
Then we blew out of town
with no one
in pursuit.
 
I didn’t know back then
the severe negotiations
that come into play
with human memory
responsible now for nameless faces
who would not believe
any of us would ever
let chrome wheels rust,
drive an automatic,
or wear a seat belt,
ever.
 
A fastback finds a resting place
anchored by flat tires,
haunted by field mice,
paralyzed in a final traffic jam.
 
But don’t tell me she’s without a driver,
dead friends and fathers
tell me different.

Water’s Edge
18” x 24”
Oil on Canvas
by
Bud Gibbons
from the collection of the artist
 
 
 
Water’s Edge
 
 
 
today
this is porcupine
and native brook trout
country,
black bear too
if I’m quiet.
 mountain laurel
sanctions the breeze
the way sky celeste
spills across water,
edges dancing
to the serenade
of rock and root,
in motions of
children,
true as my life
before birth. 

Morning Glories
64” x 84”
Oil on Canvas
by
Bud Gibbons
 from the collection of the artist
 
 
Morning Glories
 
 
 
One box turtle
climbs dandelion
and morning glories
with his imagination,
unseen by
mountains with brown eyes.
 
Horizons of homestead and shade trees
seat this kingdom
in sweat and milk.
 
From here
we never fooly swallow
words from a microphone,
or bargains.
 
We do expect flies,
dry spells,
meadows sweeping honey scent,
and the sense to build.
 

Touch Me
8” x 10”
Oil on Canvas
by
Bud Gibbons
from the collection of Denny & Vickie Kolakowski
 
 
 
Touch Me
 
 
 
Jim Morrison is screaming
“Touch Me”
under the blue moon
as logs turn into spark
turn into fireflies
turn into stars,
And Jim doesn’t want them to fall
from the sky
for you and I
until he is done loving.
 
Hypnotized
by oxidation and beer,
we ignite into family
by caressing flame
and bask in the glory
of this life
thought
deserved.
 

Influence of Morning
16” x 20”
Oil on Canvas
by
Bud Gibbons
from the collection of the artist
 
 
Influence of Morning
 
 
Was there ever
another birthday as this?
Painting with dew,
water laughing over rock,
whispering such perfect sense.
 
The pearl of moon
fades into azure,
Mist maneuvers
a butterfly flickering silk,
A pair of dragonfly
buzzing airborne ballet,
Dead logs on beds of pulp
tickling with spiders and ants.
 
To awaken in the arms
of another day
with this child earth
forever at play.
 
Hopefully it’s all
that will ever matter.
Our eye
fixed on the same dream
as the deer,
brook trout,
red fox,
and dove.
 
We splash our souls
and climb the sky
together.