Robert Plath

TO MY 5-YEAR-OLD SELF AS I APPROACH 55

today i go thru an old
behind my eyes
arriving back
beneath that terrible roof
& i pick you up
& we slip away
from the monster
who doesn’t notice
as he slumps
watches boxing on tv
in the den
we cross splintered
door jambs
before his fists
begin itching
& drive until we reach
a bright field
we get out
& walk
i pause to pick
a bouquet of violets
my hands touching yr hands
in a benevolent exchange
the same hands
you smile
pressing blue petals
to yr heart
like defibrillator paddles
beneath june sun


Gerald So's YouTube reading of "to my 5-year-old self..."


Rob confesses nothing.

ROB PLATH has been prolific in the underground lit. scene since 1995. His most recent poetry collections are Walking Across The Shards Of My Soul, 2021 and Batter the Keyboard Like A Raptor Is Behind Your Back, 2022. A long awaited full-length collection is due out in 2025.