Poems for 3/20/22 - Birthday by Ana Božičević and San Diego Serenade by Tom Waits

Thanks to Ammi Kohn for suggesting this poem. The litany of clichés transformed reminded me of an old Tom Waits song that also suggests that vision and emotion can reinvest the quotidian with meaning. I've appended the lyrics along with two links to him singing it in different versions...

Birthday

By Ana Božičević

If the sky is such a cliché
Why is it falling?

If the tree is such a cliché,
Why is it dying

If soul is such a cliché
Where is it hiding

If love is such a cliché
Why isn’t there enough to go around.

For my part
I can’t get enough of the sky.

For my part, I can’t wait
For those leaves to come back.

For my party
I am inviting the clown Love

For my birthday I want a cake
Revealing the color of my soul.

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Ana Božičević grew up in Zadar, Croatia, before coming to the United States. Her latest book, “New Life,” from which this poem is taken, will be published by Wave Books in April.

San Diego Serenade (1974)

by Tom Waits (Click for Live Performance; Studio Version)

I never saw the morning 'til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out the light
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody until I needed a song

I never saw the white line, 'til I was leaving you behind
I never knew I needed you until I was caught up in a bind
I never spoke "I love you" 'til I cursed you in vain
I never felt my heartstrings until I nearly went insane

I never saw the east coast until I moved to the west
I never saw the moonlight until it shone off of your breast
I never saw your heart until someone tried to steal, tried to steal it away
I never saw your tears until they rolled down your face

I never saw the morning 'til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out your love light, baby
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody until I needed the song