Mervin Mirapuri (1945–2020)

SELECTED POEMS

an excerpt from A Walk with My Pig, Chapter 1, “Mutterings of a Dead Pig”

Shalom

I am not without spirit you say
that I cannot relate to what is around me

So you have walked the lands
seen the oppressed of Jerusalem
and the surrounds

Landscape not constructed only weathered and used
abused with emotional hot flushes

Blurred sensitivities
blotted with uneven haphazard destruction

Better the smells of an unwashed unclean zoo

You have seen the contrite hearts
one in every pew
the wounded innocent

Forgive us our trespasses

Intolerable smugness
Intellectual arrogance

Blessed are they
Blessed am I

Some in the garbage dump
looking for something
anything

Someone to hold in to
Some looking for a home

Some looking for a dirt floor house
rat infested full of flies

Canned fried flies make good export
Good for balance of payments
Good GNP

Forgive us our sins

Some looking for themselves
without a mirror

Some looking for themselves
through a mirror

There was no reflection
only a glare

blocking out my vision
Cobweb of light
I did not see where I was going

Tell me if I look ok or if I am seen to be ok
seen to be ok
I have an image to maintain
a certain standard

Pomp and circumstance
I have the charisma
I want the applause

I have the mouth
My lips are full of praise
I am full of myself

Yes I know
Aren’t we all

But

I can’t help myself
Must keep going
Feels good on the inside
to hear the echoes of myself
and to walk in my shadow

Tough minded people lasting out the tough times
When the going gets tough
the tough get going

Where am I going

Just wanting to get ahead
Just a little
a little at a time – could this be inappropriate

And if you don’t play the game
you will not be in the running to win
Then you must be in the ahead club

Hope

by Mervin Mirapuri
from A Walk with My Pig (2023)

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