Found Poems

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Part 2

1.His Pink Palmed Hand

 

Crooks sat on his bunk and looked at the door for a moment,

Put his dark chin to his pink palm,

He was more permanent than other men,

Scattered about were a number of personal possessions,

He had books,

No difference,

No difference,

Kept his distance,

“Nobody can tell what a guy’ll do.”

 

2. Well I Tell You, All of You Stink to Me!

 

Alone,

Thin, tightened lips,

Deep black wrinkles,

Eyes lay deep,

Their depth seemed to glitter,

Bent over,

By his crooked spine,

It makes no difference,

“‘Cause I’m black.”

 

3. Stable Buck

 

A small electric glove threw a meager yellow light,

His voice was toneless,

“Books ain’t so good. A guy needs somebody”,

He fell slowly rubbing his back,

Explored his spine with his hand,

“Why I’d come an’ lend a hand…”

 

4. Yes ma’am

 

Yes ma’am,

His voice was toneless,

Crooks had reduced himself to nothing,

“It don’t make no difference”,

“‘Cause I’m black”,

No difference,

No difference,

Yes ma’am,

Crook’s face lighted with the pleasure in his torture.