Four New Poems by Gabriel Bates
Felix
That’s the name
of my cat.
I never really asked for him,
just ended up with him.
When I first got him,
it was a cold night
and we drove home
with him in a little box.
Now,
tiny god he is,
he struts across the living room
licking his chops
after eating kibble.
I look at him
and wonder what
his past lives
must’ve been like.
Surely he was worshipped
in every one,
like the Egyptians used to do.
Much like he is now.
°
Nothing New Under the Sun
It’s all been said and done before
but we keep saying
and doing things.
The earth turns
and writers play with words
like children with blocks.
Artists use brushes
like crayons,
repeating themselves.
And me?
Well,
I guess I don’t have
much room to talk.
°
Green-Eyed Monster
I read the work
of a poet recently
that floored me.
He said everything
so simply,
yet beautifully.
I was jealous,
almost ready to quit
writing altogether.
Until I remembered
that one day,
his words and mine
will all be
nothing more
than piss in the wind
anyway.
°
The Body
After lovemaking,
I get up
and grab a towel.
All I can think about
are organs,
tissue,
and mass.
I light up
a cigarette
and lay back.
Then I look over
at her.
She’s all flesh
and bone too.
But I love her
like I know
that there’s something
more to all of us.
Bio of the Poet: Gabriel Bates is a poet living in Pittsburg, Kansas. His work has appeared in several publications, both online and in print. Keep up with him at facebook.com/gabrieljbates.
