Rusty Berkus

Soulprints: The Poetry of Rusty Berkus

Soulprints: The Poetry of Rusty Berkus

Poetry is combined with striking watercolors in a journey of self-discovery, a celebration of an outward heightened social consciousness, and an inward sparring and triumph.

"In every heart lies a poem aching to be born, to echo the deepest sense of self, to transmit in truth the theme of an inner life, for the signature of the soul set down in one's own hand, is poetry." — Rusty Berkus
"POETRY IS THE SOULPRINT OF THE PSYCHE" — Rusty Berkus



Excerpts

  • Mothers

    Are you listening Mother
    can you hear me
    I talk to you of dinner tomorrow night
    not really thinking of tomorrow night's dinner
    I'm thinking of you.
    we will sit at the table
    a comfortable buffer between us
    eating, wiping our mouths
    instead of dabbing the tears
    for the unsaid words between us.
    are you listening Mother
    I think you can read my mind
    that you know how little I care about dinner
    how tasteless life is
    without the tender talking that transcends time.
    there is still time for us Mother.
    perhaps you wished your own Mother
    could have read your mind
    wanting her to get up from the table
    put her heavy arms around you
    to hear the tender talking that transcends
    time.
    I know you can't read my mind
    I want you to hear me
    listen my Mother, I love you

  • Us

    strangers
    we
    by chance
    upon this planet met
    traded tears and treasures
    opened albums
    for inspection close
    strangers
    we
    became friends
    became beloved friends
    loving friends
    friends who loved
    each other's tears and treasures
    thus becoming more
    ourselves
    then becoming
    us

  • The New Friend

    Daring to be alone in her company
    I knew not what to expect -
    she bid me very first thing to take leave of
    dirty dishes, unmade beds and soiled laundry;
    into the full sun of day she pulled me.
    oh so loving,
    tolerant of whims
    sensitive to my every need,
    giving me permission
    to do just about anything,
    pampering me,
    expecting nothing in return.
    as I dashed across the length of lawn
    pretending to be a wild bird,
    she clapped;
    as I read my poetry, she rewarded my words
    with smiles and nods.
    to think I might not have dared
    to be alone in her company
    (against me she could have turned at any moment)
    it was boredom, panic and loneliness I had risked, when there she was for me all along
    the very best friend in all the world -
    myself

Paperback: 62 pages
Publisher: Red Rose Press; First edition. edition (February 1, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0960988831
ISBN-13: 978-0960988839
Dimensions: 10.8 x 0.2 x 10.5 inches