Author Archives: Don Yorty

Sonnets 61 – 90

61 Things are often more beautiful at a distance, but not you. The closer the more inevitable you become. Before I thought beauty was what I saw, that the superficial awed but I was wrong. Your skin is really you … Continue reading →

In my words, March 4 – 10

10 Mar ’13

… Thursday after class as I walked down Fourteenth Street in the cold drizzling rain, I stopped at the Duane Reade on Third Avenue and asked, “Do you have an enema bag?” “Enema?” the Bengali fellow asked. “Enema,” I repeated. … Continue reading →

In my words, February 25 – March 3

3 Mar ’13

… Walking down Grand Street after class, looking to buy some fish, Talapia to be exact, I stood before some huge carp and huger catfish sprawled out in tubs, gills slowly moving in and out, quietly resigned. As I remembered … Continue reading →

In my words, February 18 – 24

24 Feb ’13

… I met my friend Bill Kushner on Friday at 9th Avenue and 23rd Street. It was high noon. I jumped off the bus and there was Bill, hood of his parka up over his head carrying his bag with … Continue reading →

In my words, February 11 – 17

17 Feb ’13

… I’ve opened my living room windows letting in refreshing air and the songs of birds rising out of La Plaza. I can recognize three distinct calls, but have no idea to whom they belong. I don’t see the birds … Continue reading →

In my words, February 4 – 10

10 Feb ’13

My friend Tony came home from work, unlocked his door and saw his cat sitting by the refrigerator, not paying any attention to him as it usually did meeowing its greeting when he came in, but like an Egyptian statue, … Continue reading →

In my words, January 28 – February 3

3 Feb ’13

… I made a New Year’s resolution to start swimming. Here it is February the third and I finally am. The pool at the Chinatown Y is quite decent. It wasn’t crowded this afternoon and I got a lane of … Continue reading →

Les Bijoux par Charles Baudelaire

2 Feb ’13

… … Your girlfriend gets naked. She puts on all of the jewelry you’ve ever bought her. Then she dances only for you. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Yet in Les Bijoux the poetry excites and entices all of the … Continue reading →

In my words, January 21 – 27

27 Jan ’13

… Roman augurs … The word inauguration comes from Latin. An augur was a Roman priest who studied the flights of birds to predict the future in their patterns. The prefix in can mean no or not: immeasurable, incomplete, immoral. … Continue reading →

In my words, January 14 – 20

20 Jan ’13

… It’s Monday afternoon around two. My morning class is over. I’m home, but leave at five-thirty to teach again till eight. I’m interviewing students Tuesday and Thursday from two PM to seven. I usually have afternoons off. Monday and … Continue reading →

Fucking, poetry, Don Yorty, Janis Joplin, John Keats, Life Cafe

Fucking V: I’ve smoked a thousand cigarettes and watched you sleep

19 Jan ’13

… Fucking for Janis V I’ve smoked a thousand cigarettes and watched you sleep. Your Raphael angel curls Your bee stung lips Dare I touch you where the sun hasn’t? Dare I say wake? There is the smell of pepper … Continue reading →

In my words, January 7 – 13

13 Jan ’13

This morning things return to normal; break is over: time to teach. It’s early now; well not so early, a little after seven. I just woke Akram up with a cup of coffee, black with sugar, which he’s drinking leaning … Continue reading →