Christopher Franke outside Cleveland’s Brandt Gallery on 12 July 2008
[photo by Jesus Crisis]
OF SOME ISSUE
If men were
more like women,
could women be
more like men?
What mothering man
might woman father?
Or nurturing
father mother?
If men had babies!
a spouse might
what lack take?
Call love, “Fluid.”
Like where it leaked
plugging a dike,
could lesbian man
make woman gay?
If women had
commas, would me
have periods?
If men had head-
aches, would women
have erections?
Where women warred,
be men there whored?
Were a woman
a jock, would she
then mount a man?
& ride ’till dawn?
Sweeter seduced
than taken rough.
For better work,
give equal pay.
And so what leave
has any fig,
love’s sweetness grants;
love’s daze may care.
* * * * *
Poem originally apeared in frankeana/miscellangy, a collection of works by Christopher Franke & Jim Lang
Reproduced here with the author’s permission
For a video of Chris Franke’s featured reading during the Deep Cleveland Poetry Hour in August 2008, visit http://crisisblog.crisischronicles.com/2008/09/15/deep-cleveland-poetry-15-august-2008-with-christopher-franke.aspx
Cleveland poet Christopher Franke is founder of Deciduous Press and author of collections including (but not limited to) Paren’s Thesis, frankeana/miscellangy, Routines, and =5
For more Franke poetry see the Cleveland Poetry Archive, ArtCrimes, The City Poetry 5, and
Of Some Issue (by Christopher Franke)
17 Saturday Jan 2009
Posted in 2000s, American, Cleveland, Franke (Christopher), Writing
If only he were she or she were me how happy we all would be.
Every time I read something more by Mr. Franke, I am more and more impressed with his work. I first heard him at the August Deep Cleveland reading and loved what he read there but this is really excellent. Hope you’ll include more very soon.
Thanks, Pinky! He pretty much gave me permission to include any of his poems I wanted – so more will be on the way.
How do these come across read…?? Have you heard this one aloud?This is so intricate .. there is so much there woven together .. I wonder if you lose any if you can’t read it… see it written.. Just wondering..I like his stuff too.