John Chmura
John Chmura
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John Chmura reads Somewhere It’s Raining
SOMEWHERE IT’S RAINING
Well after sunrise
I wake up in the dark
shadow of the black eagle
who clutches me
with barbed wire talons
and I leave my pale nightmares
reentering the dismal reality
of dystopian days.
Cravenly I pray
somewhere it’s raining
ice buckets to the face
through the sacred canopy
of coerced secrets
and a savage manic realizes
his unstable ideas smell
as fishy as
dead salmon hats
on Point No Point
forty years out of date.
Переглядів: 12

Відео

John Chmura reads A New Year’s Poem, 2025
Переглядів 2014 днів тому
A NEW YEAR’S POEM, 2025 One more year rolls out of the pines like a rusty pickup dragging boughs caught in the undercarriage and four wheels throwing sugar sand and needles into the dark of the new moon, the best of Merle Haggard jammed into the 8-track player, scored for a song at the Columbus market, plucked from the rabble of recycled nostalgia salvaged from dusty attics and basements where ...
John Chmura reads Blame The Dead Guy
Переглядів 1421 день тому
BLAME THE DEAD GUY Black eagle restless a shrew limp in one talon a waddling old dude shifting his bulk from hip to hip every few steps raising a wing economically extending a gimpy leap like a moonwalker. Dark eyed raptor throwing shade blackness spread under a burned out street lamp a lacquered ink habitually wary and guilt weary looks over his shoulder a hidden rival but the danger is always...
John Chmura reads The Recount
Переглядів 2221 день тому
THE RECOUNT black eagle flies no more will he symbolize your freedom black eagle leaves blue star shadows and bloodshot stripes shapeless on the flagpole black eagle marches dragging the earth his tail ignites and everything turns fire black eagle nears insanity counting the eyes in peacock’s tail black eagle tires of trying to change leopard’s spots black eagle neither confirms nor denies bein...
John Chmura reads Separation
Переглядів 16Місяць тому
SEPARATION To be Gemini it’s hard enough. Like I’m the brother I’ll never have. The dark side of a new moon. The body divided among constituents. And together my eyes never danced either. And my left ear a silent void. Feels like the world is just off stage holding cue cards backwards. Sharing jokes I don’t or shouldn’t laugh at. Playing pieces for the left hand in cynical stereo. Wittgenstein ...
John Chmura reads The Past Aloof
Переглядів 242 місяці тому
THE PAST ALOOF Off-season renter at the end of the jetty her easel teetering in puffs of chill breeze chuffing off the prancing inconstant waves she studies she paints her past aloof incongruous she is here she is now. After a week of days staring at her back the locals crabbers and fisher folk call her aloof but she’s well past aloof artist’s eye and brush’s oily tip critically adrift at full ...
John Chmura reads Pick of the Pantry
Переглядів 132 місяці тому
PICK OF THE PANTRY Waiting in the dark inarticulate practicing patience and a crafted domesticity possessing potential and but for the fullness of space never truly empty like the bellows between heaven and earth or the concertina undrawn when the hands’ dorsal aspects test the pull of strap leather. Resting on the counter receptive as I unscrew an aluminum pot and fill the base with pure water...
John Chmura reads Sun Day
Переглядів 183 місяці тому
A poem of late summer. Several stanzas have previously been shared in whole or in part as haikus. SUN DAY dawn comes late fields of flowering suns sway in the thrall of wild canaries tethered like planets to gravity succulent supplicants eager as pound puppies dewy tears drain their grooved ginger cheeks little nibblers follow the plough tiny tongues’ luxuriation ravens steal stuffing to line t...
John Chmura reads The Silver Age
Переглядів 273 місяці тому
THE SILVER AGE False oasis in the barrens, poolside Pound re-reread, Jackson Pines’ Control Burn smolders in one meaningful earbud. Arrogantly observe quasi-neighbors jury-rig a radio speaker on the patio, HOA volunteers cruising through their endless summers in two minute and thirty second increments. Day tripping narcoleptics share orthopedic episodes and early bird menu reviews until you won...
John Chmura reads Double Trouble (2)
Переглядів 204 місяці тому
DOUBLE TROUBLE “Thanks to my Stars, I prize the Sweets of Life, No sleepless nights I count, no days of strife.” - Benjamin Franklin Charmed by spilling sacred water, thanks for this, another morn one may apply to God, resource, unseen headwater, my renewal, under uniform blue, hiding stars. Purpose, kinship, a milling wheel engaged, I amble, in one place, peaceable, prize irrevocable moments a...
John Chmura reads Double Trouble (1)
Переглядів 194 місяці тому
DOUBLE TROUBLE “Thanks to my Stars, I prize the Sweets of Life, No sleepless nights I count, no days of strife.” -Benjamin Franklin Charmed by spilling sacred water, thanks for this, another morn one may apply to God, resource, unseen headwater, my renewal, under uniform blue, hiding stars. Purpose, kinship, a milling wheel engaged, I amble, in one place, peaceable, prize irrevocable moments an...
John Chmura reads No Baptism
Переглядів 364 місяці тому
This poem addresses the question, “What isn’t a baptism?” in the poem Yield, by Sarah B. Sullivan. NO BAPTISM Smoky the turtle knows it ain’t no baptism simmering in its upturned cauldron of mocking soup as helos douse torched pines inside the fire break or planes bury with slurry whether coiled feathered or furry those unable to scurry in a hurry and the storms run off after drought has harden...
John Chmura reads Caffeine Highway
Переглядів 204 місяці тому
A poem written to the prompt, Road Trip. CAFFEINE HIGHWAY Navigating a secondary straight line pike, refracted sky pooled on irradiated roadway asphalt vaporizing in disillusion; forearm lounging on window frame, steering with a thumb and finger vee at nine o’clock, to go cup ensconced on my cradling paunch; side splitting sun strobes squinting eyes, spitting odious knives of light through spla...
John Chmura reads John John John John
Переглядів 185 місяців тому
JOHN JOHN JOHN JOHN Strangers walk the gridlines their steel probes stabbing holes for bones calling out one word John John John John but John’s long gone. Light pools thick and stagnant clogging nonreactive eyes. Poems and passwords and contingent secrets scatter like junk mail flyers and greasy paper plates wordless in the raven’s beak on the roadside scraggle or dangled in a reacher grabber ...
John Chmura reads Danger Cape
Переглядів 195 місяців тому
DANGER CAPE Danger Cape is my superhero power. No, it doesn’t fly; that would be impossible. But when there’s danger nearby I flap it out and clamber under The Dome of Protection, like hiding in an octopus, metachrosic and virtually invisible to predators, safe, where I read adventurous tales of princes and dragons in secret to a squatting puppy that savors every syllable or have friends over f...
John Chmura reads Egg Salad
Переглядів 155 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Egg Salad
John Chmura reads Lakeview Park
Переглядів 355 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Lakeview Park
John Chmura reads Playback
Переглядів 676 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Playback
John Chmura reads The Last Stand Open Mic, May 2024
Переглядів 346 місяців тому
John Chmura reads The Last Stand Open Mic, May 2024
John Chmura reads Feels Like Rain
Переглядів 146 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Feels Like Rain
John Chmura reads Stolid Sate
Переглядів 196 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Stolid Sate
John Chmura reads Swallows, revision
Переглядів 216 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Swallows, revision
John Chmura reads Swallows
Переглядів 167 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Swallows
John Chmura reads Cafe, 6 a.m.
Переглядів 277 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Cafe, 6 a.m.
John Chmura reads Luminal Moment
Переглядів 277 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Luminal Moment
John Chmura reads Forecast
Переглядів 298 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Forecast
John Chmura reads In Lieu of Flowers Buy Books
Переглядів 248 місяців тому
John Chmura reads In Lieu of Flowers Buy Books
John Chmura reads Four Bidden
Переглядів 308 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Four Bidden
John Chmura reads Berth
Переглядів 358 місяців тому
John Chmura reads Berth
John Chmura reads The Touch of Spring
Переглядів 749 місяців тому
John Chmura reads The Touch of Spring

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @aileenreynolds5604
    @aileenreynolds5604 3 місяці тому

    LOVE this John!

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 3 місяці тому

      @@aileenreynolds5604, thank you so much. We’ll be reading it soon!!!

  • @AvilaSolRey
    @AvilaSolRey 6 місяців тому

    This is SOOOO GOOD🥹🥲😄 thanks John

  • @aileenreynolds5604
    @aileenreynolds5604 6 місяців тому

    LOVE this John!

  • @JacquelineBonanno
    @JacquelineBonanno 9 місяців тому

    Could be March Madness! As always, a good one John.

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 9 місяців тому

      Thank you, Jackie! This was actually fun to make!

  • @JacquelineBonanno
    @JacquelineBonanno 10 місяців тому

    Wow just wow. Yes what a world…

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 10 місяців тому

    Gotcha, How can people not believe in evil & Satan. It's all over. However, I did love your explanation of the title. You always make me laugh and then 💥 boom. John poetry is a great gift and you surely have it. We're you writing as a kid?

    • @ryannash1728
      @ryannash1728 10 місяців тому

      Wow - I had to listen to it twice and rewind a few times. Your poem is rich in imagery with an authentic message. It paints a visceral image of our modern life.

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 10 місяців тому

      Thank you!!!

  • @ryannash1728
    @ryannash1728 11 місяців тому

    Very nice - can you share it in written form

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 11 місяців тому

      Thank you! ART ATTACK Mauled by the fall of art from the wall and command hooks that do not obey a solar splat floored near the one of the side-eyed sun with a heart of sole hungering for soup cans served fresh to impress a top-hatted owl sartorially framed and perched content in the corner to glare with monocled stare rapt or bemused and a sad dude who stoically sheds one acrylic tear from a spiral eye’s hollow skull while humanoids afloat in organs learn how it will burn and how this f--ery will turn or pour out like the java pumping life blood under silent timeless painted boomboxes that I don’t know whether to press play record or rewind to remind that they who rock well rock best when the mic drops the suited bard breaks our hearts conducts us to a ghost car singing our good-byes the day after Trixie dies only hoping the honeymoon of this endeavor is never over.

  • @aileenreynolds5604
    @aileenreynolds5604 Рік тому

    Great poem John! Everyone at the brunch LOVED it. Thank you for sharing! I felt honored to read it!

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 Рік тому

      Thank you, Aileen. I really wanted to publicly express my feelings about our great group!

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 Рік тому

    Amen 🙏🏻. Crying is healing and may be from a past wound. Let it out. Sorry again John.

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 Рік тому

    Very interesting. Agree. Satan is alive and active. Guys, people marrying friends, no pray in schools, weed legalized, disrespting not only family members but gossiping about their families. My parents wouldn't believe how fast the world has crumbled. I like that you explained your material. Thanks John very good

  • @aileenreynolds5604
    @aileenreynolds5604 Рік тому

    You are no amateur my friend!

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 Рік тому

      Thank you, Aileen! That means a great deal to me…

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 Рік тому

    Wonderful. In spirituality it's called The dark night or Spiritual dryness. Poetry is like a song to God, A great blessing. 👍

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 Рік тому

    Loved it. Relate. Excellent

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 Рік тому

      Thank you, Annmarie! Doing my best to keep it real!

  • @darrelparks4651
    @darrelparks4651 Рік тому

    "promo sm"

  • @JenniferCherpock-sy9fz
    @JenniferCherpock-sy9fz Рік тому

    I love it John! Hearing you read it aloud makes me appreciate it even more! It’s such an honor that my work inspires you!

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 Рік тому

      Thank you, Jennifer. That really justifies the effort. In my mind, the process of reading certain poems out loud finishes the work in a similar way to firing clay in the kiln.

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 Рік тому

    I never thought of the trees that way. We had a beautiful tree had to get cut down otherwise our tree roots were twisted on our sewer line and would cost 5-8000 $$$. I left and cried for the tree. The man cutting it saw how upset I was. He waited for me to show and tell me my tree was already dead. It was there when we bought the house. I loved this poem because you enlightened me to a different thought of detachment. I personally would've never realized . To me detachment is a virtue and the most difficult..fact. To trust in God completely and detachment and trust in HIS plan. I again 👏 applaud. I hope that made sense and appreciate how different we are with our thoughts, but they are both truth. One of my favorite works of yours.

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 Рік тому

      That’s what I love about art. We all bring our own experiences and feelings. I’m so glad you put so much into reading this piece.

  • @aileenreynolds5604
    @aileenreynolds5604 Рік тому

    😆

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 2 роки тому

    Loved this. I think hearing you read is more enjoyable for me. DM'ing you.

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 2 роки тому

      Thanks so much. I actually worked on it a good number of hours. I really enjoy making the videos for just the reason you said. Even in my poetry group the consensus is that my poems are more meaningful when read aloud.

    • @annmarievalenti9264
      @annmarievalenti9264 2 роки тому

      @@johnchmura708 also, I like poetry but don't always get it, but when the person reads it, it just makes it easier for the person to learn & understand. Poetry is a great blessing.

  • @robwasnj
    @robwasnj 2 роки тому

    Now that red shale has been cemented over along the highway.

    • @johnchmura708
      @johnchmura708 2 роки тому

      Thank you for that. Truth be told, I had actually slept on a concrete slab on the Highland Park side in Johnson Park. But concrete just didn’t seem as poetic.

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 2 роки тому

    Oh John, First I'm sorry you were there. Your take on it is how you feel and it probably feels better to release it on paper, but through trauma it takes time. Perfect title from your perspective. Loved your beginning as the paper being the ??? What possibly could that be.

  • @aliasmoneypenny
    @aliasmoneypenny 2 роки тому

    The Second Coming...Yes, proof today that many will miss it again 😔

  • @annmarievalenti9264
    @annmarievalenti9264 2 роки тому

    Loved it when hearing you read it.