by Mark Stellinga
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This book consists of 67 poems which includes "Old Babe", "El Matador, etc.
Two of his poems: '4 Seasons' and 'I Came Upon A Mountain' are both nominated for the 2005 Muses Prize - Best Poem of the Year 2004. Read headlines at Muses Review at "www.musesreview.org".
"These poems span a magnitude not only in time and space, but in circumstance as well. Some are written in an elegiac 19th century style, others in the plain speech of Iowa, and still others in the rough-and-tumble vernacular of the everyday life of our times.
Stellinga writes in rhyme, unusual in modern poetry. Although some would find it hard work to keep to so measured a meter, and to a so-well-disciplined rhyme scheme; in spite of this, the poet's language seems to flow without effort. All in all, there is a universe here, in the range of human experience and personal emotion in Stellinga's work.
John Birkbeck
Carmine Creek Press
To My Connie (Poem #47)
by Mark Stellinga
Never a thought in my heart could surrender
such ecstasy, save, you alone.
None could surpass nor compare to my "only",
the one true companion I've known.
Telling you now that my heart with affection
swells to the brim with my love.
Speaks to the strongest and deepest devotion,
all for the one I dream of.
No, there is nothing as pure and as real,
as precious, as dear, and as true
As the love I am feeling, the love I am giving,
the love I am sharing with you......
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If you want to buy his poetry book, you may contact Mark Stellinga by email at: [email protected]
You may read other samples of Mark's poems in the Fall 2004 and Winter 2005 edition of Muses Review at www.musesreview.org
(This is an advertisement for 9 months: Dec 2004, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept 2005.)
11.
Now I don't think that I have ever see'd a man so sad,
And we all know'd that this poor soul
was really hurtin' bad.
12.
But when he picked that bottle up,
of what he'd never tried,
He no more put it to his lips,
when he broke down and cried!
13.
This old feller thought by drinkin' he could fix
his heart!
For some it's tough to quit the booze, for him,
was hard to start!
14.
We just sat and sadly watched the old guy
choke down beers,
He only stopped a couple times to wipe away
some tears.
15.
As I watched him struggling with his hurt so
deep inside,
I found myself remembering friends and family
that had died.
16.
I saw old faces that I miss, and I began to
think,
Could this be the reason why a lot of good folk
drink?
17.
And as I looked around that bar,
a warm and friendly place,
I never did see one dry eye,
And not one smiling face!
18.
That has to be the saddest day
I've ever know'd by far,
A sad and broken-hearted man,
come down to this old bar.
19
To try an' drown away his pain,
and as I watched him weep,
I prayed that soon his tears would stop,
and he, again, could sleep.
by Mark Stellinga
1
Just a couple o' weeks ago,
down at the "Dew Drop Inn",
We was shootin' pool fer bucks
when this real old guy walks in.
2.
Now no one know'd just who he was,
on this we all agreed,
When this old feller goes an' does like we aint
never see'd!
3.
He drifts on by our table,
gives a nod and a little grin.
We could see that this old man was frail
and awful thin.
4.
The pool game kind'a stopped,
and as the whole place sat and stared,
He almost looked like he was lost, real weak,
real tired,
and scared.
5
And when at last he reached the bar,
we barely heard him say,
"I have never been inside a bar before
today!
6
I was raised a preacher's son!
If Dad knew I was here, he'd roll right over
in his grave!
I've never tasted beer!
7.
"But, son," he said, "though drinkin's one thing
I have never tried,
I have no family left, and just last night,
my dear wife died!
8.
I had a couple sisters, and a brother,
but they're gone!
My wife, for 60 years had been the one I'd
counted on.
9.
for everything, you see,
she was the best friend that I had,
And now I don't where to turn, so,
please forgive me Dad,
10.
But I've heard liquor helps to wash away the
pain and grief,
And I just can't go on like this,
I need to find relief."