Communications

Communications represents a life spent thinking and writing. From the sublime to the mundane, and everything in between, the 104 poems in this anthology reflect upon topics ranging from bullfighting to love to mowing the lawn. In poems such as "GOLF" and "NIGHT DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY," author Robert Zufall demonstrates that even life's seemingly routine occurrences are rich with meaning if we pause long enough to take notice. In contrast, in poems, such as "I MUST AND CANNOT TELL YOU," Zufall flips the script and asserts that much of what we ascribe value to is ultimately meaningless.

I MUST AND CANNOT TELL YOU

I must and cannot tell you the word that is everything;
Pebbles strewn, tall grass, and the motion of clouds
have no importance.
And the shape of buildings and phrases is meaningless
and the lights moving in the empty swell of the
East River.
For none of us knows the whole word but it is desperately
important that I try to tell you of it though I
am not worthy.
There is not counting or touching it but you must know it;
you have seen it in a kiss and a handshake and
through tears.
But God almighty you must know that there is one word
that is life and that is meaning and without it
it's all ash heaps.
And you will know it in the faces you love.