Songs of a Clerk by Gary Beck

Duplication

This large corporation of blankness,

built on the interchange

of meaningless figures,

how grey its members pass.

Long past sorrow and joy,

they find power in a Dictaphone

and somnambulistic and ear plugged,

they never stop recording.

Ineffectual Flight

Without provision

for your wanton evolution,

I escape in fantasy.

I joined the ragged column

marching to Caucasian mines,

leaving an effete posterity

to console you.

I cower from the lash

of brutal overseers

until I learn

that this vacation must end.

I send my thoughts

to the Cote d’azur,

day sun-streaked to the crotch,

night bodice groping to the moon,

grasp prominent parts,

join them in one copulative thrust

and wake up shattered,

back at my desk.

Retirement III

Dave’s gone.

Unmissed,

vague as memory grows.

Machines clack on,

new fingers serve them,

tireless, devoted.

Yes, the old man’s gone.

No sunlight gleams in prison room.

Grey men of inky fingers,

where are your carbons?

The stale, airless room,

unchanging chores,

tired 5:00 P.M. expectation,

lucky Dave.

Tidal Surge

Security, that silly dream,

wooed in midnight fantasies,

my restless hunger seeking roots.

The pauper’s fear,

my always unbelonging,

my atoms, insignificant,

finally begin to change.

In one week of passionate strangeness,

a new job,

published,

the hope of fulfillment.

Will this moment of recognition

defeat my ancient enemy,

my unsure self?

Gary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theater director and worked as an art dealer when he couldn't earn a living in the theater. He has also been a tennis pro, a ditch digger and a salvage diver. His chapbook 'Remembrance' was published by Origami Condom Press and 'The Conquest of Somalia' was published by Cervena Barva Press. A collection of his poetry 'Days of Destruction' was published by Skive Press. His poetry collection ‘Expectations’ was published by Rogue Scholars Press. His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off Broadway and toured colleges and outdoor performance venues. He currently lives in New York City, where he's busy writing. His poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines.

Photo by Adam Lawrence.

Street artist unknown.

Typhoon has been building a following around their home town of Portland, OR for years and have finally decided to record an album. "Hunger and Thirst" was released May 4th by Tender Loving Empire Records.