Jack Babcock 6/7/1948-2/21/2022
Jack Babcock 6/7/1948-2/21/2022
“. . .And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.” Rest in peace dear friend, you will be missed.
Editor: It is with deep sadness that Calamity News and Politics announces the death of our dear friend and contributor, Jack Babcock. Jack was a passionate and prolific writer and poet. He had a wonderful sense of humor that drew people to him and he had a very rich social life with many interests and hobbies. He loved birds and animals. He enjoyed playing the guitar, and reading T. S. Eliot. If you’ve visited CNP before you have probably seen some of his postings. Although Jack passed in late February his Memorial Service was held yesterday, 3/5/2022. So today is a good day to laugh a bit and look for the bright side of the situation; that was Jack’s way. You can find Jack Babcock’s books of poems on his Amazon site at this link:
You can find him at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jack+babcock&ref=nb_sb_noss
POETRY MORSELS
By Jack Babcock
the bird
the birds
wings cut the sky
another bird proud
has his own
way to fly
cutting the sky
hovering over his nest
as if to say
I am the best
His wings cut the sky
Amazing you and I
********
Bed
I saw on the tube
An ad for a bed
King sized
I’m single bed Jack
It would be nice to do things in two
doing things in one tho is nice
no petty quarrels
no intrigue no spice
one is just fine for now
two is too many maybe
my uncle used to say
that he was a lone angel
so be it. I’m an angel.
********
living
what’s the point of living
if you can’t
smoke a cigarette
drink a beer
blow some dope
or
drop some acid
what’s the point
Author’s note:
14 years of sobriety
********
baseball
illness
I have 3 illnesses
Schizophrenia
Diabetes
Acute kidney disease
3 strikes 3 strikes and you’re out
But I feel pretty well
Jack lived in suburban NE Portland, Oregon. In 2020 his suburban neighborhood was threatened by wildfires. They were on a standing Fire Evacuation Alert (Red Alert Level 3) for a week. It was pretty scary times here on the west coast. I remember the sky was a sallow yellow and the smoke was blinding. Totally unprecedented devastation. I thought readers might enjoy Jack’s quirky take on that very dangerous situation.
fire
the red sun
peers thru the smoke
the news is near doom
I haven’t had asparagus in years
or a banana split
the president waves a flag
I hope for one last good meal
Red Alert Level 3.
Jack graduated from U of O with a degree in English and he went on to Lewis and Clark law school. Although his grades had been good enough to get him into law school, he became too sick with Schizophrenia to continue after his first year. Please enjoy Jack’s quirky take on life, and the deep pain of his mental illness. Being smart and doing all the right things doesn’t protect you from mental illness.
Brown Door
the brown door is shut……
I’m mentally ill. I smash the door, howl and scream.
Let me out of this madhouse quoth I.
and behind the brown door are lunatics.
drooling, sneezing, coughing, playing
with themselves.
what do they need?
just not to be put behind the brown door.
they need sunshine and music, laughter.
but, the brown door is shut.
********
Sweet Julia
i compared you
to a movie star
you balked
said you weren’t that attractive
is it possible
you don’t know how pretty you are
Julia
i told someone
i write you letters, poems
they thought that was sweet and kind
nothing of the sort
i do what i have to do
i feel i must write to you
looking at things
my aunt left me
an utrillo print
a few rings
a spode china set
all so pretty
so real, i love them, i loved my aunt
and there is you
my dear
i think i love you too.
********
Well
yotta yotta yata
so it goes
pornography or poetry
yadda yadda ya
whats the diff
it seems important to smile
death has no
yadda yatta
freedom and obscurity
yotta yotta ya
what now my love?
yotta ya.
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2019/02/13/mental-illness-i-m-prism-by-jack-babcock/
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2020/09/14/fire-by-jack-babcock/
