i.m. Hannes Hollo, 1959-1999

Anselm Hollo - 1934-2013

Fought the hungry ghosts here on Earth
"What is man?" asked the King 
Alcuin’s reply: "A guest of space."   And time yes time:
The past lies before us, the future comes up from behind
Walking on Primrose Hill or Isle of Wight beaches
Iowa City streets scrambling up snow-covered deer track
To Doc Holliday’s grave in Glenwood Springs
His helmet now shall make a hive for bees
He fought the hungry ghosts here on Earth
Strong & resourceful on his best days, 
Patient kind and presente
Returning those with him to here & now
But just as we settle in with our Pepsi and popcorn
THE END rolls up   too soon   always too soon

"'What is man?' asked the King": Pippin, son of Charlemagne, 9th century C.E. "His helmet
now . . . ": George Peele, Polyhymnia.

follow that airplane of course I'm high this is an emergency § giant Scots terrier I thought I saw was known as Taxicab Mountain § brown photo legend "serene enjoyment" they suck pipes bones crumbled back § night train whistles stars over a nation under mad temporal czars § round lumps of cells grow up to love porridge later become The Supremes § lady I lost my subway token we must part it's faster by air § "but it's our world" tiny blue hands and green arms your thought in my room § sweet bouzouki sound another syntax for heads up to the aether § in you the in moon its rays entwined in my mind's hair hangs down right in § viewing the dragon there they ride slim through my dream Carpaccio's pair § slow bloom inside you the mnemonics of loving incessant chatter § far shore Ferris wheel turning glowing humming love in our lit-up heads § switch them to sleep now the flying foxes swarm out great it's flurry time § wind rain you and me went looking for a new house o the grass grows loud

for Jane is to be one to the one closest to you who shares the air & other elements right there next to you two bodies wrapped in darkness among millions of other bodies wrapped in darkness & smoke war bloodshed & chaos voices rising out of the dirt one to the one without whom one wouldn't be one who saves one when lost in regions of the past raging at bygone constellations pursued by a swarm of angst gnats who saves by her sight & sound & touch to notice that gravity's strong on this planet notice there's a half-ton of apples in that tree notice cricket jumping on cedar branch feline humor magpie elegance in sum this world born not so long ago with maybe not that far to go still roaming the contradictory corridors of a universe or two wind turns pages then shuts book he looks up she looks up from piano keys hold that frame

Mr. K said in times of great crudity it is necessary to be subtle so please wrap around me with awkward grace I may have suffered some Rilke Damage or do I just have a little trouble with fantasy tripwires while engrossed in the sky's lexicon & hills like purple pachyderms "there's been a great upsurgence" said the announcer but I didn't catch what of & what of where does it come from where does it go still asking on down the road

Poems

i.m. Hannes Hollo, 1959-1999

More by Anselm Hollo

5 & 7 & 5

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Poems

i.m. Hannes Hollo, 1959-1999

5 & 7 & 5

Born Today

Lost Original

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poets.org

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