Poems by Ian Ganassi

WHAT’S LEFT

The proof was in the pudding and Miss Lucy was in the dark.
The pudding was vague but the proof was stark.

The working week is a nice place to visit but my advice would be to stay at home.
There are many stairways to heaven, and many roads to Rome.

I miss the guttural smell of dandelions.
Man has turned his back on silence.

At the Stock Exchange they get noisier every day.
“And how’s your goddamn sonofabitching portfolio by the way?”

Dandelions are beautiful, from flower to seed.
They’ve got what you want, if not what you need.

Aren’t you lucky you have your lute?
Before you sit on that log you should take off your suit.

I thought there was something strange about Choate—
Was it the opposite of inchoate?

At the playground, the teeter totter is out of kilter.
Before you drink the water you’d better use a filter.

“Which way did he go?” In contrary directions.
He couldn’t distinguish between the collections.

They’re common elsewhere, but they’re always at home.
It isn’t what you know, it’s what you own.

As though the light bulb had invented Thomas Edison
It’s hard to distinguish oneself from one’s medicine.

Now the big machine has left me in its oily wake;
All that remains is what it couldn’t take.

 

WHISPERING HISS

            One can’t prevent the serpent’s sibilance.
It insinuates the wrong thing at the right time.
            And you can’t beat the oracle for relevance.
But it only means what it means to you.

            Don’t hit me with that way of squinting into the light.
I can take myself off the list, but not off the rolls.
            If we’re not gearing up for a battle we’re gearing up for a fight.
I’m terribly sorry you lost your head; have you checked the lost and found?

            I can’t prevent the serpent’s sibilance
“Naked and ashamed” is too easy to testify.
            And you can’t beat the oracle for relevance.
Foods you never knew could make you beautiful

Are waiting for you at your local mega-mart.
            Don’t hit me with that way of squinting into the light.
Many players are smart without being smart.
            If we’re not gearing up for a battle we’re gearing up for a fight.

            One can’t prevent the serpent’s sibilance.
Air rectified, with a digression of the air.
            And you can’t beat the oracle for relevance.
Once the air is rectified we can all heave a sigh.

            Don’t hit me with that way of squinting into the light.
The surgeon with his knife, the doctor with his drugs.
            If we’re not gearing up for a battle we’re gearing up for a fight.
It makes you want to resign the club.

            One can’t prevent the serpent’s sibilance.
Fido’s loyalty only goes so far.
            And you can’t beat the oracle for relevance.
A stiff upper lip just leads to the blues.

It's far better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone else.
            Don’t hit me with that way of squinting into the light.
Unless, of course, you’re considering suicide.
            If we’re not gearing up for a battle we’re gearing up for a fight.

 

OUT OF WINDOW

            If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Separating wrong from right, the yolk from the white,
            Humpty Dumpty’s brittle eyes were agog.
There were soldiers to the left and soldiers to the right.

            Which was nothing compared to the mess we inherited.
Cannon fodder is cheaper by the dozen.
            Between what’s true and what’s advertised there’s a tiny disparity.
He could tell the severed finger came from a violin player on account of the rosin.

            If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
It’s impossible if you don’t, and impossible if you do.
            Humpty Dumpty’s brittle eyes were agog,
And the little princess couldn’t remember her cue.

            Which was nothing compared to the mess we inherited.
What’s the difference between a raven and a writing desk? Who cares?
            Between what’s true and what’s advertised there’s a tiny disparity.
Said Simple Simon to the pie man, “let me taste your wares.”

            If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Whoever wants to save his life will lose it.
            Humpty Dumpty’s brittle eyes were agog.
Don’t sneeze too loud, they’ll never excuse it.

            Which was nothing compared to the mess we inherited.
But whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
            Between what’s true and what’s advertised there’s a tiny disparity.
Ask me no questions I’ll tell you no lies—I refuse to debate it.

            If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
At the circus there was a persistent smell of decay.
            Humpty Dumpty’s brittle eyes were agog.
If the acrobats take your breath away, perhaps they’ll give it back someday.

            Which was nothing compared to the mess we inherited.
How little boys like to play at war for instincts.
            Between what’s true and what’s advertised there’s a tiny disparity.
How much is enough? Only everything is enough, and the kitchen sink.