Rod McKuen Was Not a Poetry Ho

Well, maybe he was, but it doesn't appear so from my perspective. He was one of the best-selling poets of all time, which does suggest he must have been a ho, but...well, I like a lot of his stuff because it's like the MacDonald's of subtlety and innuendo and meaning. If you want some smooth poetry in a hurry, pull up to the drive through and maybe order "ONE" from Listen to the Warm, stolen and posted below.






This is the way it was
while I was waiting for your eyes
to find me.

I was drifting
going no place.
Hypnotized by sunshine
maybe,
barking back at seals along the beach.
Skipping flat stones on the water,
but much too wise for sand castles.
My castles were across the sea
or still within my mind.

There were the beach bars
and the other beach people
sometimes little bedrooms were my beach,
but I was drifting.

I must have thought the night could save me
as I went down into pillows
looked up through dirty windows
smiled back from broken mattresses
turned in Thunderbirds
and kissed in elevators.

I cried too sometimes.
For me.

I loved every face I thought looked pretty
and every kindred eye I caught in crowds.
But I was drifting
before you.