Poems by Liam Roche

Poem by Liam Roche

Untitled by Liam Roche

It hangs upon angelic
architecture, upon the lonely prayer,
upon all our hard-earned art and literature
as it hangs delicately upon the butt of the half-smoked cigarette
flicked with a curse before the bar fight.

Poem by Liam Roche

Untitled by Liam Roche

Where shall we meet, sweet ghost father?
In the quiet contemplation of an empty church?
In a drunken sprawl?
Or when tossed to the edges of this earthen bowl
in the embrace of the deepest dive?

God follows me everywhere and so can you.

Poem by Liam Roche

Untitled by Liam Roche

Ease into your instincts of death, of meaningful life, lust,
God’s paternity and the kinship of evil.

Let these things raise up your spirit and give you some small
dominion in this large space.

These are yours alone and all that is required.

Poem by Liam Roche

In the Spirit of Whitman by Liam Roche

I now take upon myself the name “enemy.”
Suspect any man and suspect me.

Degrade any man, I am degraded.

Torture me in western civility and
I weep western tears.

I will channel all our long-buried American insurgents:
Our dark slaves, our natives, our Chinamen.
Irish and Italian and Poles and Russians

Flesh given, and flesh taken.

The colors of their flags
Mixed with blood

Make industry and stars on a blue field
Stolen.

Poem by Liam Roche

Untitled by Liam Roche

Good father, release me!
I’m not learning or becoming.

Silent, warm and descending,

No harm in my nature.
Make me mud again!
My nature.

Poem by Liam Roche

Untitled by Liam Roche

You will be ridiculed,
roughed up,
ignored.

You will be alone most of the time with our ideas.

Now, instead of some bitter man,
I stand here with you
and share in the gold you made.