Tales of Paraphrenia
A Collection of Poems
by
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The Economy of the World Rests on My Shoulders
and My Shoulders Rest on You
All the windows are boarded
the room is big and loud and bright
I never hear doors opening and closing
I no longer hear silence
I can no longer feel silence
the ringing in my ears never stops
I place the platinum chip in the cell receiver
there is no time to make sure it is in good
before I blink the next one is in front of me
thousands of times each day the same motion
so many motions but time seems to be still
only the hot breath of the floor boss moves
My father and my mother work here too
but I am not able to see or talk with them
someday I will go to school and learn to read
nineteen girls sleep in the same small room
we have little rest and only one meal a day
I am 12 years old and dream of many things
I have never had a pretty new dress
I have pain in my hands that won’t go away
I want to cry but I am not allowed to do so
sometimes I find it hard to breathe right
sometimes it feels like I am burning up
sometimes I hear myself screaming inside
You must understand I am not complaining
I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity
you must realize how much you mean to me
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About the Book
There are many kinds of madness. Some known and some unknown. Some seen and some unseen. Some cured and some not curable. All beings who claim to be human are born in moments of madness; not just in mayhem, but in the mundane, in the everyday, in this moment.
Look in any direction, the evidence is abundant.
So, the questions become how do our minds and hearts respond? How do our moral codes adjust? Do we have a moral code? How much do we contribute to the propagation of madness? How much do we conscientiously reject it in our daily lives?
These are some of the themes and dreams explored within the spine of this book. As a fellow sufferer, I hope, in my own feeble way, to shed some light where there is darkness; or, at least, create a meaningful dialogue of the soul.
About the Author
Born and raised in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Now resides in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with his beloved wife of 33 years, Sherylle Hochman, and beloved cat of 12 years, Zimmy.
Graduate of Brooklyn College.
Spent many years living in a variety of places with a variety of people in this country and the one to the north.
Co-published the now obscure and infamous Grinning Idiot. A literary quarterly that produced a gaggle of rag and bone-shop issues of rebellious literariness over the span of two years early in the dark Reagan 80s. Some of those who were kind enough to contribute previously unpublished material were: William S. Burroughs, Charles Bukowski, John Clellon Holmes, Harvey Pekar, Crad Kilodney, Raymond Kennedy, and Richard Grayson to name a few.
Published some ragged essays and jagged verse in now defunct independent publications.
Partnered in a salubrious songwriting team that produced a bevy of forgettable songs, including three that appeared on the soundtracks of equally forgettable movies.
Having retired from the position of Grant Writer at the New York City Housing Authority in 2013, there is much time to reflect and regret and rejoice.
Both parents are deceased.