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Best Poems From
HERBERT NEHRLICH
(04 October 1943)
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317.
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Strike
The hall was crowded,
a hum transcended
blue collar whiff
and music drifting in
from the last vessel
to arrive. Deserted docks
in silence, rough hands
had left at last.
To hell with wages,
we listen to our union,
assembling here,
still peacefully anticipating
elusive answers
from those who lead
by education and example.
And after many days
of cargo sitting, stranded,
and idle men misled,
a sudden silence could be heard.
A voice of hoarse falsetto,
articulate, in plaintiff tone,
and re-creating identically
itself through echo walls of concrete,
shouted into the mayhem of inaction
'will the real Jesus Christ please stand.'
Herbert Nehrlich
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318.
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Stripes
We've earned our stripes,
learned all the skills
of laundry workers and
accounting 101, to ascertain
that nought is left behind
to shoot an arrow into lust
which has been seen
by those concerned
as ad infinitum.
Herbert Nehrlich
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319.
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Sun And Moon (half-grown children)
The sun got up and saw the moon.
'Why are you out of bed so soon? '
'It is because a moon's required
to light the way when you've retired
into your bed to rest your rays,
I do not like to work on days.'
'I'm glad to see you my dear cheese
to tell you of my ailing knees
and in the Springtime I will quit
and you can handle all this shit.'
Herbert Nehrlich
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320.
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Tara
And may I ask you now,
to keep, as from today
a chair next to your bed?
Reserved for me, of course,
should ever come the time
when darkness comes
dressed as Senora Noce,
and digs its bony fingers
inside the sanctuary of
your featherbed, my girl.
I shall be ready then,
at your command, just yell,
I'll dropp the dregs of life
and take my rightful place
there, next to you, my sweet.
I'll count your dream like breaths
and watch the rouge
upon your cheeks compete
with ruby lips that glisten
and lashes well aflutter.
Leave all the things to me!
No devils will come near
as long as I can sit with you,
I am your guard, not for the night
but for the life of you and me,
and, like a father to your soul
if you'll feel safer I will hold
both of your living hands in mine.
Herbert Nehrlich
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