Monday, June 13, 2022

BILL BATHURST ~ The Collected Poetry & Prose






Bill Bathurst, The Collected Poetry & Prose

 edited by Bob Arnold

___________


Longhouse, 2022

Available now 


240 pages of poetry & prose
including Bill Bathurst's three out of print titles ~
For Julessa, Greystone Poems, How To Continue
plus uncollected poetry & prose

62 photographs & images

Introduction by Clifford Burke

$25

$5 shipping for USA
Overseas please inquire




Buy now
with Paypal,
please use our email

longhousepoetry@gmail.com



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PO Box 2454
West Brattleboro, Vermont
05303


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Time On My Hands

                                for Billie Holiday



As though abed in white satin

her wedding night with Prez


that never threatens dawn,

her voice from the Thirties


untouched by Death

the lone night through.


As though Lady,

filling in my silence


like Prez when her soul

caught its breath,


could ease me through the dark,

“I’m Pullin’ Through.”


As though that voice

would never trail off,


dawn never catch me,

like a shade flying up,


sandwiched between mirrors

taking a piss,


wide-eyed and hollow

cheeks needing a shave,


this image reflected &

diminished to a point


invisible with silence

she must have welcomed,


leather soles of police

on the waxen floor


of her hospital death room

heard inside her eyes


as gardenias of years gone by

crushed underfoot.


As though, then, this coda

could finally be left


unwritten: Sunday, lonely,

guest of a friend


gone to bed with his wife

pregnant again, restless


when I write this,

outside I’m spaced, the sun


at my armpit, encircled by

acres of broken land


flat as my prospects,

weeds & barbed wire running riot


like doubts in my head

make it hard to walk,


uncertain & shy, alone &

a long way from home.

                                         

                                                20 August 1967