I NOW GET A BLOW JOB

once a year
on my birthday.
It's a good thing
at my age
the years go by
quickly.

Norman Savage
Greenwich Village, 2011

NO PORN TODAY

no master-
bation for me;
I've decided not
to diminish my day
of awakening
by taking myself
on a cheap date.

Norman Savage
Greenwich Village, 2011

ON TURNING 64

I want to thank
the few who
(pre-
maturely)
wished a happy birthday
to me...
but I especially
want to thank
the hundreds
of millions
who did
not---
you all know
who you
are: the good,
the bad,
the ugly.

Norman Savage
Greenwich Village, 2011

BENEATH THE LAYERS

of anorexia
she hid;
underneath the tweed skirt
that billowed
and swayed
in rhythm
as she walked,
to the thick-ribbed first chilled taste
of autumn weather
in an over large autumn sweater inside
an earth toned body-
stocking that contrasted
smartly
against her foliage
leading upward
joining a multi-layered
muted colored scarfed
Audrey Hepurned throat
supported by pencil legs
sprouting up
like the youngest green stems
from brown leather boots
she floated
through Washington Square
trailing wisps
from a cigarette
dripping
with neurosis
and was courted
by two young
freshman beaus
eager to get next
to a girl already thick
with danger.

I couldn't blame them,
but I'd already taken
that course.

Norman Savage
Greenwich Village, 2011

THE BONES OF GRATITUDE

Most men marry
the first woman
that fucked them
for no money
not knowing
that hookers
were the better
and more honest
catch.

Norman Savage
Greenwich Village, 2011

THERE IS MAGIC

in your mind's wilderness
whether in forests
or the gutter magic of cities,
provided you're alone,
most alone,
listening
to the winds wail
of laughter, or the screaming
tears of a siren;
you can never outlive yourself,
but you can cheat death
a little; you can fuck
with the gods provided
you make them laugh
and shake their heads
at your folly;
make them bestow some grace
despite your meanness
and narrowness of understanding.

the gods coursed in my veins
or sat next to me
in my gin mill stew;
they gave me women
who loved me despite
my stupidity
and lack of civility
and even now,
(though not too often),
they knock,
sometimes late,
sometimes early,
to bring silliness
to a body
and being
that should have
long before
stopped
but
didn't.

Norman Savage
Greenwich Village, 2011

HEMINGWAY

made me cry
in junior high school;
it was the last time
I read him.

I think I'm ready
to take him
now.

Norman Savage
Greenwich Village, 2011