The Hideous Existence of Barnaby Drudge

by Howard Camner

 

born with almost no head
no arms
no legs
no god to point a finger at
no fingers to point with
Barnaby Drudge is one for the books

virtually unemployable
dropped in a sawmill
raised by opossums
in his own private corner of Hades
he weaves his webs
hanging upside-down by his twisted soul
paralyzed by law
he is a blatant liar
promising to give his word
Swearing to take a vow
vowing to break his promise

Barnaby Drudge is one for the books
forced to extremes
drawn to headlights
rewriting history in his bedside journal
taking credit for every natural disaster
he crosses his black heart and then the highway
accusing himself of being no one

if he ever gets caught in your headlights
and there's no time to stop
do not be afraid

he'll never see his murderer
he sees only perimeters
he cannot see you

to Barnaby there is no substance
there is no matter
there is nothing
he sees only perimeters

and who could blame him for that?

 

© 2005 Howard Camner

Howard Camner (The Hideous Existence of Barnaby Drudge, Granddaddy's Farm, The Risen) is the author of fifteen books of poetry. He represents the United States in the Poet 2000 Sculpted Library, an international exhibition of the works of contemporary poets. He received the first annual Mi-Po Literary Award in 2004.

 

Howard Camner will be giving a poetry reading October 1st at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

A second reading will be October 2nd in Lowell as part of the Ark Project for the Revolving Museum.