czvasser

Author: czvasser

As a kid, I grew up in Morrisania, in the Bronx and learned to grow food in the Crotona Park victory garden. That ultimately led to a green career including 20 years at the Bronx Zoo and more than 30 years in non-profit management. I learned to cook at my grandmothers knee before I was 10 years old and still love it. My love basketball and I referee boys, girls High School Varsity and recreational basketball. I write, I write, I write. I was an English major with a thought of going into journalism. Hmm, but I still write everyday.

March 22, 2016April 18, 2016 czvasser Fried Chicken

Vietnam Reblues

Dereliction of duty on my lover’s lips Cheap wine, marijuana and old sex Saying softly commitment Loudly NATIONTIME Smells like pampers and bad plumbing.

Vietnam was brown with a Buddha face Laugh quick ‘cause you’re dead already black.

Peace symbols and afro picks among glassine glaze and apple wine.

War was well war until a bullet in the back then it became one less lung Sweet Jesus precious air.

How’d they know I lived there F**king letter What the f**k is a draft board Motherf**kers Lottery my ass They sure did All the way to Vietnam That doesn’t sound bitter Does it.

What agents are you smoking Some known others unknown Reagents on both sides Lies and camouflage should sleep together since they piss with the same penis.

Johnny got his gun What did I get Except a dose and a case Needles all around Drink up.

Oh say can you see Sweet Land of Liberty for thee I sing.

March 13, 2016February 23, 2017 czvasser Afroticity, Fried Chicken

What You Know ‘Bout That

What you know ’bout 10.
Tenement basements
daybreak brittle cold
coat covers
sleeping with a bunk bed wetter
stove-heated water
washing in front of the oven
one eye on the rat hole
behind the claw foot tub
sunday bath nightmares.
What you know ’bout that.

What you know ’bout 11.
The welcome smell of shooting gallery soot
deep nods of gyroscopic junkies
spiderman, the hulk, dr. strange
mad cool
you know about radioactive spiders
gamma rays and roots
you got people that work roots
you got people that know zombies
What you know ’bout that.
I’m not trying to make a point
I’m just asking.

What you know ’bout 12.
Thick crusty three day old hunger
grandma’s knitted hand
surplus food thursday
gold cans of usda approved mystery meat
powdered eggs and peanut butter
glad to have bologna & cheese.
What you know ’bout that.

What you know ’bout 13.
Hanging with the take-a-tokes
long inhales burnt fingernails
a run for ribs or fried rice
got you chicken wings
like bird, like billie, like miles you are mad cool
you knew they exhaled kinte cloth
lived burlap lives and knew hunger too
But what you know about that
don’t relate to my situation
I’m not talking about my childhood
I’m just asking what you know about that.

Continue reading “What You Know ‘Bout That” →

February 22, 2016April 19, 2016 czvasser Fried Chicken

To a Lost Love

The land blows away
one handful at a time.
It heaps against windows
and forgotten places.

The rain ran through her hair
filled her mouth
slipped from her fingers
Now comes the dust bowl years
The swirls catch me up
drop me nowhere
near the rainbow.

Mirrors held face to face
diminishing
endless
How endless is the land
her yield diminishing
How forward and reverse
a curse of knowledge

The rain was today
Rivulets from her shoulders
down her arms
and off her fingertips.
I lay under them
hoping
drops of potent potion
will fill me as a well

Waterfalls vaporize
create forest and frenzy
cool and calm
pool and purpose

A perfectly cornered thing
blows across the land
hides queens
and covers kings
with dust.
It points beyond the wind
to a heart that holds lost love.