Korea – Observation Post (by Vladimir Swirynsky)

Vladimir Swirynsky – photo by JC

Korea – Observation Post

for Glenn Eure

“The ghost of it whimpered back last night
from a cold November 50 years ago.”

Somehow you endure the things
of this world, the clearness of winter,
half-moon your only eyes.
Bless the good earth, the black
boot frozen hand sticking
up through the half-finished
grave like an apology.

The fingers curled, a cup holder
for your coffee, a distraction from
the imagined stray bullet with your name
etched on it. I have talked to those
troubled souls, men who only nod their
heads, the broken English of silence
that’s an outcry wanting to explain
what we can’t begin to understand.

War is a dull knife,
the poetry of survival,
a rough draft of us on bended
knee prying open the secret
compartment of hell.


* * * * *

Vladimir Swirynsky of Cleveland is the author of close to a couple dozen books.  He won 1st place in the 2011 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition.  See him March 16th 2014 when he will be one of 60 featured poets at Snoetry 4: A Kulchured Winter Wordfest.

Vladimir Swirynsky at the Elyria Public Library, part 1 – April 2011

Part 1 of Vladimir Swirynsky‘s reading on 4/12/2011 at the
Elyria Public Library, 1194 West River Rd. North, Elyria, Ohio
 (photography & editing by John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis)

Swirynsky won 1st place in the 2011 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition

   

Vladimir Swirynsky at the Elyria Public Library, part 2 – April 2011

Part 2 of Vladimir Swirynsky‘s reading on 4/12/2011 at the
Elyria Public Library, 1194 West River Rd. North, Elyria, Ohio
 (photography & editing by John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis)

Swirynsky won 1st place in the 2011 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition

   

Vladimir Swirynsky at the Elyria Public Library, part 3 – April 2011

Part 3 of Vladimir Swirynsky‘s reading on 4/12/2011 at the
Elyria Public Library, 1194 West River Rd. North, Elyria, Ohio
 (photography & editing by John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis)

Swirynsky won 1st place in the 2011 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition

   

Vladimir Swirynsky at the Elyria Public Library, part 4 – April 2011

Part 4 of Vladimir Swirynsky‘s reading on 4/12/2011 at the
Elyria Public Library, 1194 West River Rd. North, Elyria, Ohio
 (photography & editing by John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis)

Swirynsky won 1st place in the 2011 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition

   

Vladimir Swirynsky at the Elyria Public Library, part 5 – April 2011

Part 5 (conclusion) of Vladimir Swirynsky‘s reading on 4/12/2011 at the
Elyria Public Library, 1194 West River Rd. North, Elyria, Ohio
 (photography & editing by John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis)

Vladimir won 1st place in the 2011 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition

   

Already the Sky on Bent Knees (by Vladimir Swirynsky) – video

“Already the Sky on Bent Knees” written/performed by Vladimir Swirynsky
1st place winner in the 2011 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition
held at Mac’s Backs in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, on 11 May 2011
(photography & editing by John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis)
 
Vladimir Swirynsky is the author of many books and CDs including

   

Vladimir Swirynsky reads at Snoetry: A Winter Wordfest – 1/16/2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UEqNTR1PLw
Filmed during Snoetry: A Winter Wordfest — a Lix and Kix production
at the Last Wordsmith Book Shoppe in North East, Pennsylvania on 16 January 2010
(photography & editing by John Burroughs, a.k.a. Jesus Crisis)
 
Vladimir Swirynsky is the author of many books and CDs including

   

Vladimir Swirynsky reads a poem at Lix and Kix on 21 July 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BgMr4WcHs0

Vladimir Swirynsky at the open mic during Lix & Kix X, 21 July 2009
at Bela Dubby, 13321 Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio
recorded/edited by John Burroughs, aka Jesus Crisis

Vladimir Swirynsky is the author of many books and CDs including