boy on ground (8)

Let me through
I am minister from the east
led here by my belief in war.

Only moments have passed
my walkie-talkie squawking
since my son fell.

He is everything I own
since my home was repossessed.

He swims to me, crying soft
of metal fingers in his throat
from his belief in war.

He touches my face
shaving me with looks
my magnificent son.

He gropes for my knee
wilting
gargles a little marching song
calls me Papa.

Let me put a hand
on his chest, I am minister
from the east with my belief in war.

Let me start his heart pump up
and I promise:

to go forth no more
spitting gray balls of bullets.

David Rizzi is a poet / drummer / composer living in Seattle. He reads, performs, and facilitates poetry workshops around the Pacific Northwest. David was the winner of the 1st WordStorm Poetry Competition held on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and a winner of the 2008 Jeanne Lohmann Poetry Prize. He currently performs with a musical / poetry collaborative group, Band of Poets.

His first poetry collection, vibrant city of Bones, came out in 2006. Since then, he has published two other collections: Conversations with Jack, and Declaration. His latest project is a five volume epic tale that deals with a succession of physical and spiritual journeys, and eccentric adventures told from multiple perspectives.