4 November 27th to December 8th The Other Press Ease 11 fe Otherthan Poetry Review - HE He was a logger large man in a child’s voice blue eyes shone truth Image in mind can’t rinse them out with smoke nor_brine I wish this man was free to set his soul as one with me it would to be his lover infinite friends ten years my senior don’t know why | -his image is younger deeper in my ‘mind my eyes know his beauty tho’ he’s — not here his love kept - in my heart fear Biography 4 Paulette Faith Chyrstal Steeves was born on November 25, 1955. She was raised in various logging camps and mining towns in B.C. She began writing poetry at age eleven, but quit at age thirteen at which time, with her grade eight education, she began work- ing as a chambermaid. She left home at fourteen. After working as a model, dancer, cab driver and bar maid, she became a single parent in 1977 by her own choice. After the birth of her son she bagan to write again. She has taken writing and welding at the College of New Caledonia, and worked as a welder. Welding was not for her, however, and she is now working as a bar maid and living with her greatest ae her son Jessia Blue. tgs SCI + Sete mee oe ee ao ee ple we eR VaV e we Re Ee eRe, Poems by Paulette Steeves Ken is here I came here, to learn don’t know what it’s been fun sometimes my writings have been appreciated I think when i read my story they laughed a lot and cheered write a novel, write a novel tonight, Ken is here the published poet all is so quiet, when i walk in, late i think they are having a two minute’ s silence maybe the queen died then i see him, hey the poets are all so solemn, come on loosen up, dummies writers, poets, speak. Your silence is making this poem i think - After Ken 1980 He was there Grinning, happy Sparkling eyes A big man Small soft voice He’s nice, I thought He wanted me His eyes told me The time wasn’t now Weeks flew by I entered the room Late again He was there His soul . down, out somehow He read, he spoke I wrote, I read his eyes We all left met, at the bar Talking, drinking Smoking, playing pool Looking, touching Feeling, close Everyone else Disintegrated into the night, open space We spoke, relieved now So glad you’re here I love you We shred peaceful night many truths, embodied, together Speaking, feeling, loving Massive, beautiful, gratifying Man, now I love you also If ever, if never My soul remains Dedicated Body, Face, Image, Spirit Imprinted on my Mind, heart, soul Infinitely beautiful yes, I love you TY re = Welders eoete what if he never came at all my heart would not have felt love what if, i never let down my guard stand alone in a solitary yatd fear what if i never let my love whisper upon his hears must reach out and touch so he may feel how i love, his ways _ what if i never ' Welders have big rods, and small rods. They get good hot, deep penetration. they melt joints spark, love, lusts deep in the night. Oh holy night. psec oan ar ar eee dy Come Yes do come take down the drapes i = = Moon in darkness with my heart no Love, pain torn, apart . going to hibernate for a century or two Hermitized from society scared black and blue one black feather dipped in red blood of a blond heart payment enough My son i’d like to bring ‘my Son in but he does not hear my voice it gets lonely inside one self he reaches out to share his Love but cannot say i Love you the gift is in his Eyes delicate fingers motion feelings come from deep inside a joy of Love and sharing grab the cardboard drawers help yourself, its only me steal my lacy, white dress of virginity the one my mother made by hand for me Fill your bank accounts with my blood there’s nothing left here for your material gain shut off my lights, i’ll feel no pain weigh my bones, on your butchers scale can you see, i really do try to pay my debts, to society, to die Yes go ahead, don’t be shy i still have one, big, brown, eye from which i can try to cry you see, its really only me Reality ou es