A Canadian poet & composer, I'd like to submit a selection of poems from a collection entitled BROKEN HEART & A HOLE IN MY SHOE. You will find them both below, and in the attachment.
Previous work published in:
Quills Canadian Poetry, Fractions, Neon, Forma Fluens, Poesia/Indiana Bay, Motel 58, Word Slaw, poetryfriends, kudos, Sonar 4, Poet’s Ink Review, The Battered Suitcase/Vagabondage Press, Twisted Tongue, Danse Macabre, Language & Culture, Kritya, Burst Now, Yellow Mama, greenbeard, Glass Poetry Journal, Wow, Orbis, Faraway Journal, riverbabble, Blueprint Review, Unheard Magazine, Toucan (forthcoming Summer 2010), Accenti (Spring 2010), Sex & Murder (Spring 2010),
Sparkbright (forthcoming June).
Short stories in: Chicago Quarterly Review (2); Happy; Taylor Trust (forthcoming Spring 2010).
Following a recent stay at STEIM, a contemporary music center in Amsterdam, I have been writing for the stage.
DISCOGRAPHY: http://www.cdbaby.com/all/mcmonty
GANG OF TOLSTOY
Manufacturers of Music for the Savant-Garde
www.myspace.com/gangoftolstoy
MCMONTY
Gritty Music & Streetwise Poetics
www.myspace.com/mcmontylive
ITALIAN JAZZ ARMADA
www.myspace.com/italianjazzarmada
Luigi lives in Italy.
Selections from BROKEN HEART & A HOLE IN MY SHOE
Luigi Monteferrante
SCHOOL CROSSING
In a fluorescent coat
He swings a paddle
Stops the cars
We cross the road
But one day she came
His wife
They all said
She floors the gas
She wants him dead
He runs
And we cried
Instead of the old man
She got me
I roll down the street
My books in a bag
I spin round the curb
Pull a wheelie
Do a 360
They applaud
I race to school
Roll up the ramp
I sit in the back
Listen to Mechanics
One day I’ll find
How to get my legs back
Meanwhile I study
Rush from the class
I like watching hockey
The coach brings me chocolate
I like it hot
Keeps my hands warm
It starts to snow
Coach starts to worry
I laugh:
I’ll get a sled
And he laughs along
And off we go
Our home team won,
I sit in my room,
Open the window to the ice
The cold stings my tongue
And snowflakes melt
I push myself off
Then pull myself up
I stare at the ceiling
Warm and cuddly in bed
A good day again
I did my homework
Passed all my tests
I prayed to God
May you all be so blessed.
I HAVE SINNED
SO I MUST BE PUNISHED
No bars to mark the time
No windows or lampshades
They set the rules
Gave me a Constitution
Learn it by heart
Or we’ll turn up the juice
They gave me no reason
Just do it, that’s all
I broke from office
And ran to the mall
They caught me running
They broke both legs
After cracking my skull
They fried two eggs
They fired some juice
I feel better, alright
Keep the juice flowing
Redemption is free.
RED HOUSE
You sat on the rocking chair
On the porch
In the shade
You hold a glass
And your musings
Who’d have thought
It’d come to this
Me walking out
And away
Holding a bag
Dirty laundry inside
You won’t wash my clothes
Called me a stranger
Don’t know my name
How could I?
Never seen you before
Now get going!
You pointed my rifle
I picked clothes off the line
I couldn’t go roaming
In pajamas
But the clothes
They weren’t washed
I made off alone
I sit and I watch
From under a tree I shout:
Please let me in
It really is me
Your man!
She fired a round
I heard the click
She fired another
I ran in
Don’t like what I see
Said the sheriff that day
She’d been complaining
Told us thing
I’m ashamed to repeat
And a man in my place
Can’t help but suspect
She’s the one you shot dead
Come ride with me
Said the sheriff:
The judge wants to talk
He’s passing sentence
On his sister
The one you made pregnant
It’s the hangman for you
Up the gallows you go
A week from the next
You’ll be hanging
For the show.
CHEMISTRY
They go to church
Ride home a family
But girlie, she pukes
Must be the whisky
Pregnant she’s not
She’s a virgin
She claims
Took it in, yeah
Right where you think
Daddy’s at harvest
In his tractor, he’s glad
Mom’s watching game shows
The microwave rings
Time for our pills
Amen.
GROWING TOMATOES & CHILDREN
On his hands and knees
Tying tomato stalks to sticks
With ribbons, pink and blue
From my mother’s chest
Keeps ‘em straight
While for me
He used a broom
Why I grew up
Crooked.
