Larry Jaffe
country : United States of America
bio:
Larry Jaffe is the Poet/Host at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage (www.autry-museum.org) and the International Readings Coordinator for the United Nations Dialogue among Civilizations through Poetry program. He was recently appointed as the Host/Organizer of Elixir's first Buddha Jam (http://www.elixir.net/poets/info.html). He has been featured at numerous readings and poetry festivals throughout the United States and abroad including the Hammer Museum, Japanese American National Museum, Comedy Store, Autry Museum, University of Texas, UC Northridge, UCSB, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles Poetry Festival, Austin International Poetry Festival, San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival, Bristol, Paddington and Birmingham Poetry festivals. Jaffe is the Co-chair of Poets for Peace (www.poets4peace.com) and has spearheaded organizing poetry hosts around the world through the Poetry Host community group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poetryhosts).
His work can be found in numerous publications and anthologies like Urban Spaghetti, Saturday Afternoon Journal, Staple Gun Press, Poetry Magazine, Sic, Firefly Magazine, Daimler Chrysler’s Spirit in the Word, Will Work for Peace, Short Fuse, The World Healing Book, The Book of Hope, etc. Jaffe’s books include Jewish Soulfood available from Dead End Street Publications (www.deadendstreet.com), Unprotected Poetry CD and book from PoetWarrior Press (www.poetwarrior.com). Pudding House Publications has just released a special book of Jaffe’s Greatest Hits along with several other poets. Salmon Publishing in Ireland will be publishing his forthcoming book Lying Half-Naked in the Doorway. In addition, Lummox Press is about to publish his book of poetic noir L. A. Rhapsody. Each month Jaffe writes a poetry column for www.about.com Museletter and he is an editor for Web del Sol.
Making Lampshades
Picture Nazi lamp makers,
divine artistes keeping lights
on for the Nazi Republic.
–carefully laying out hides
scored of Jewish flesh…
Magnifying lenses wave
from cadaverous skulls
meticulously searching
for flaw and scar..
Hands caress skins,
sorting perfect backs
sans freckle and blemish
for perfect lamps
shining bright into
the darkness.
Nazi craftsmen drink beer,
smoke cigarettes, joke as their
ash spills on skins…
— only making lampshades
not burning bodies…
Dismissing thoughts of
carcass stripped bare
of hide as filigree gold
melts from teeth
to make… lamps.
— religious eloquence, and human touch
Nazi artisans follow detailed
instructions on the assembly
of lampshades manufactured
of fine Jewish leather.
Courteous Nazi craftsmen
draw upon resources
concentrate on technique
quietly immortalize six million
Jews in light.
© 2003 lgjaffe
Toy Fire Engine of Peace
When I contemplate peace, I recall
a moment from my childhood, when
a sun so distinct, I could see each
ray individually. (I was four – the
feeling still lingers.) I pedaled to an
imaginary fire, rescuing victims, instant
hero suddenly made, smiling and waving to
everyone in pristine wonder. A newly
found celebrity pedaling up and down
the boardwalk at Rockaway Beach.
I have kept this memory intact
for many years as an act of defiance,
knowing it might not last – it still
brings joy the reality of the ocean, sun
and the little red fire engine.
© 2002