-
The Basic American Dream
By Sammy Ginsberg “Yet I’m the one who dreamt our basic dream In the Old World while still a serf of kings, Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true, That even yet its mighty daring sings In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned That’s made America the land it has…
-
Chaperoning in Catalina
By Sammy Ginsberg These amazing humans On the cusp of adulthoodSo much changeTransformation Overwhelming, terrifying.And we are here on this islandSnorkeling to see garibaldi,Sheephorn crabs, sea slugsKayaking to caves Song of sea lionsAnd diving pelicansHiking to bald pointAll that blue,Dolphins and dreamy vistas In this little coveFox landingIdyllic, utopicFar away from society Its own society…
-
He Was Already Dead
By Sammy Ginsberg “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett I have failed so many times this yearso many timesand Papa Joe passed away,failed at three marriageswas it failure?our healthcare system failed himour cities and neighborhoods failed himsenior citizen more like second class citizeninvisiblehe wanted to diehe was already dead – that’s what our…
-
Afraid of Everything
By Sammy Ginsberg For Papa Joe Sitting on his green leather chair with the wood arm rests,the one he’s had for decadesnow in room 757 at The Variel.“I just feel so afraid.”his eyes twinkle blue and he looks like a little boy,with his yellow shirttucked into his underwear.“What are you afraid of, Grandpa?”I ask, Top…
-
He Could Be #5
By Sammy Ginsberg He’s starting a startup and I’mhis startup girlfriend.He’s at work til 10pm every night and I’mhis startup girlfriend.He’s worried he can’t give me as much of his brain as I deserve and I’mhis startup girlfriend.He’s telling me it’s always going to be like this, more power, more money, more responsibility, and I’mhis…
-
He Could Be #4
By Sammy Ginsberg but now he is,he is my boyfriendand I am his girlfriend.It has been two months,yesterday exactly! since we met,and started dating.Oh how smooth and fast it has moved,slippedI didn’t realize there was space for him,until he was there,and now, now he’s like ivy on me,and i am ivy in – wrapping and…
-
He Could Be #3
By Sammy Ginsberg I must tell you this, but I really really like himsuch a calm,how crazy this is – he stayed over last night(again) such dreams,of those days before – of feeling objecta fear to speak, going on a datebut not wanting to date,but being afraid to say that to forbid intimacy(though I know…
-
He Could Be #2
By Sammy Ginsberg darling you need to say nohow the world whirls in your headround and round like a crown,buzzing with should be could be would bedon’t want to let them down, let them downbut in the actletting myself down.Oh I should have said no yesterday-should have said see you Tuesday,but now I’m just tired!…
-
He Could Be #1
By Sammy Ginsberg could be that somebodyit feels sometimes I thinkbut oh my brain,‘is this how it feels to be held by the one‘my whole body feeling so at homeyet projection of futurecreates fear of rejection,of – is this what I think it is?Is this how it should feel?Am I just pretending?Is this even real?All…