“Geography” Poem Published in COASTLINES Literary Magazine 2011

I am not one to understand poetry very well at all. I seem to need everything explained to me in prose.

But I’ve noticed a whole segment of America, “just loves poetry,” yet nobody can explain why to me; perhaps because I need to speak the language of poetry to understand their pleasure. It would like me asking those who love the French language to tell me why, but since I do not understand French, their explanation would all be indefinable noise to me.

However, after coming to this page a second time, and rereading it, I think it was much more understandable for me. Or, at least, in the sense that all art is self interpretive, and it speaks to me, personally, in a way it won’t to someone else, I think I had a much easier time getting meaning from it.

Which is to say that, by relaxing, and letting the meaning flow in to my brain, I stopped struggling with it, and a meaning became much more clear to me. It’s almost like I adjusted some dials on my stereo or two way radio, and the static cleared up, and I was able to hear more of what you had written.

But the title, Geography, makes me think about our troops in Afghanistan, which is a very lonely, scary place for them to be, often on multiple tours, under fire, for years at a time. I wonder if you had thought of asking your HUSTLER publicity agent if they could get you booked on a entertainer’s junket to MEET AND GREET THE TROOPS. During the Vietnam War, many famous pin up stars from Playboy and other magazines, and even just regular actors who were famous at the time, used to travel through Vietnam.

The well known actor who played in the IRONSIDE and PERRY MASON series, Raymond Burr, used to do this, and he just would talk to the troops, and was not part of a song and dance parody. It’s not necessary for you to have worked out a routine, or be part of a show. Or, a demonstration of your ballroom dancing skills might be in order? Interpretive dancing to flowing Indian music, or some kind of tango? Anything would be appreciated.

JUST YOU SHOWING UP IN YOUR COMBAT GARB WITH BODY ARMOR, signing copies of your Hustler foldout, would cheer the troops.

It’s not your duty to do this, but it is something to consider.

It might boost your magazine sales, and your personal profile, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MIGHT BOOST YOUR PERSONAL SELF ESTEEM and BE A MEMORY THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

Roger, whose German Shepherds chased moose.