Poetry by Michael H. Hanson

Michael H. Hanson, a writer and poet who has published four collections of poetry and over ninety short stories, also creates poems inspired by paintings that he's seen on Facebook. Two of my paintings - Jessie's Diner and Cell Phones - were the genesis of poems this summer. Reprinted below with permission.

__________________________________________________

Jessie's Diner

35" x 65", oil on linen, 2017

Courtesy of Adelson Galleries

This Treasure Chest

Another day at the diner,

the weather couldn’t be finer,

sizzling bacon perfumes the air,

each waitress a fun diviner

dispensing advice with a flair,

serving both kid and old-timer.

So pure the open window breeze

allows sweet grill smoke to allay

omelets piled high with cheddar cheese,

bottomless mugs in this café

putting most everyone at ease

as groggy thoughts just drift away.

Breakfast hash for the hungry man

and melon slices for the girls

all squeezed into a tight floor plan,

humanity’s palatine pearls

sharing these stools with kind élan

as broken egg yolk slowly swirls.

The crunch of toast, fresh home fries roast

in this room blest, this treasure chest

and common bistro on the coast

perfect, precious, and grandiose.

22 July 2018

Michael H. Hanson ©2018

____________________________________________________________________________

Cell Phones

15" x 15", oil on linen, 2012

Private collection, Massachusetts

Allegorical Oracle

We’re all plugged in, synced to the source,

bound by some discourteous force,

distracted from another course

of coffee, tea, and sane discourse.

An unconnected appendage

raking the highest percentage

of those who cannot save a dime

and fear missing the assemblage.

An unseen cybernetic ghost,

a steel leech with us as host,

devouring both our voice and touch,

a whipping post where we can boast.

We’re all together yet alone,

cold and phantasmagorical,

trusting the seer that is our phone,

allegorical oracle.

13 July 2018

Michael H. Hanson ©2018