E. MARTIN PEDERSEN - POEMS

E. Martin Pedersen, a San Franciscan, has lived in eastern Sicily for over 35 years. He teaches English at the local university. His poetry has appeared in Verse-Virtual, Literary Yard, Ink Sweat & Tears, and others. Martin is a 2011 alum of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.

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​                                The Sun Knows I'm a Fool
 
I wait for the sun to call the role
And pass the mail at breakfast
I need a word from Dearest-John
So I can face certain death.
 
Tie me to the chain gang
Let me work the roads
My balloon will fly alone
As only you should know.
 
Drink a cup of liquor
Poison to my meat
Drink a cup of laughter
Till I stop to breathe.
 
If magic had been my major
I'd deliver you to me
But today the sun is saying
You snipped my thread, I’m free.
 

                   Watching Through a Hole in the Fence
 
What does he want
What gives him joy?
Where is he focused?
What does he fear?
 
I want to help you
Not everyone improves
I’m a skilled artist
Doing what I do.
 
A hole in the fence
I’m not at the prom
When I say, I love you
Be aware I’m wrong.
 
Watching the big game
But not joining in
I might get fondled
Might commit sin.
 
To play
The game
That way.
 
 

​                                     The Sacrifice
 
The sacrifice –
You laughed
I laughed along
With you and your brother
We all laughed
In foreign countries
On the telephone
In our cars.
 
I don’t know
What it took
For you to make
It all so easy
So spontaneous
What you lost
What you gave up
For the gift
The healing
Your laughter.