Poetry of Patrick Frank

Back to the South

She is busy on the night shift again

I should not fantasize
but I have gained some release

We are no longer dumping anger
on each other

Still, we are apart
I am asleep
when she comes home

Sometimes
I want to leave this rat race
take her back down South
drive until we run out of money for gas
beneath the blazing stars

Dark Wind

Only sound in dark before dawn wild wind and spring
rain no metallic drone from the interstate I feel at
peace, and can deeply reflect

It has followed me all the way from New Mexico...the
rise and fall, endless transformation, of dark wind

A Ride for the Kid

A kid bums a ride to the Shell Station He stows his
bike in the back of my van The kid is homeless, lives
in a shelter We are not supposed to pick up clients
But I don’t care if I am in trouble

After almost coming to blows, we played basketball.
Now we are friends

Copyright 2007, Patrick Frank. © This work is protected under the U.S. copyright laws. It may not be reproduced, reprinted, reused, or altered without the expressed written permission of the author.

Patrick Frank's work has appeared in a variety of journals, including Alba, Ashe Poetry Journal, Coffee Press Journal, Spokes, Studio1, and Word Riot. He has worked as a counselor and advocate for the poor in New England, the South, and on the Zuni reservation in New Mexico.