POETRY FORUM

EVERYTHING IS FOR THE GOOD

by Mel Waldman on April 17, 2009 :: 0 comments

I ride the Manhattan subways at all hours. Often, I read
or write or close my dark eyes and drift off to a distant
place of peace.

But aggressive strangers interrupt my serenity and lacerate
my soul. Even Transcendental Meditation™ cannot save
or release me.

And I drop into a deep hole of despair and rage. Like a
caged animal, I’m ready to roar and rip
the interlopers.

But with my parched lips, I pray silently or in a whisper
to my G-d Hashem.

Sometimes I count to 10 or 100 or simply walk away.

Kabbalists say that everything is for the good.
Who knows?

I’m a man of peace and rage too. On this day, I restrain
the caged animal inside.
How long will it hide?

How long?

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A bit about Mel:

Dr. Mel Waldman is a licensed New York State psychologist and a candidate in Psychoanalysis at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies (CMPS). He is also a poet, writer, artist, and singer/songwriter. After 9/11, he wrote 4 songs, including “Our Song,” which addresses the tragedy. His stories have appeared in numerous literary reviews and commercial magazines including AUDIENCE, HAPPY, SWEET ANNIE PRESS, POETICA, CHILDREN, CHURCHES AND DADDIES and DOWN IN THE DIRT (SCARS PUBLICATIONS), PBW, NEW THOUGHT JOURNAL, THE BROOKLYN LITERARY REVIEW, HARDBOILED, HARDBOILED DETECTIVE, DETECTIVE STORY MAGAZINE, ESPIONAGE, and THE SAINT. He is a past winner of the literary GRADIVA AWARD in Psychoanalysis and was nominated for a PUSHCART PRIZE in literature. Periodically, he has given poetry and prose readings and has appeared on national T.V. and cable T.V. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America, American Mensa, Ltd., and the American Psychological Association. He is currently working on a mystery novel inspired by Freud’s case studies. Who Killed the Heartbreak Kid?, a mystery novel, was published by iUniverse in February 2006. It can be purchased at iuniverse.com, bn.com, at amazon.com, and other online bookstores or through local bookstores. Some of his poems have appeared online in THE JERUSALEM POST. Dark Soul of the Millennium, a collection of plays and poetry, was published by World Audience, Inc. in January 2007. It can be purchased at worldaudience.org, bn.com, at amazon.com, and other online bookstores or through local bookstores. A 7-volume short story collection was published by World Audience, Inc. in May 2007 and can also be purchased online at the above-mentioned sites. I AM A JEW, a book in which Dr. Waldman examines his Jewish identity through memoir, essays, short stories, poetry, and plays, was published by World Audience, Inc. in January 2008.

Contact Mel:
mwaldman18@earthlink.net