Touch of the Poet

Smashed up Stephen Rifkin

By: Charles Giuliano - May 29, 2015

Touch of the Poet

Holding court last night
Gallery 51
Two artists and two poets
From a wheel chair
My friend
Stephen Rifkin
Heavily wrapped foot
Propped on a chair
Elevated as he put it
Smashed up
Real bad a couple of
Weeks ago
Car totaled in the woods
Saved by air bags
Taking months to heal
Graphic details
Crawling up and down stairs
Comments on aging
Need to live on one floor
All of us cutting back
More or less
Practiced the exclusive
Poet’s grip
Secret handshake
Fraternity of verse
Gave him my book
Signed and inscribed
Sharing a love
Words about words
Next to him
A stack of his books
Sold a couple he said
Took photos
Foot in foreground
Sharp perspective
Like stigmata
Mantegna’s
Dead Christ
More mishap
Than martyr