Known to the town youths As a reliable source of illicit beer Mr. Jolly startled When the reporter asked about Keg parties in the mountains. So too did the gym teacher Who met his fiancée, Now sporting a fresh Engagement ring And gold bracelet, At just such a woodland retreat. His standard retort When he … Read moreGetting Your Jolly
Watching the strongman Brother felt small Sister saw possibilities Mother bent Mrs. Calliope’s ear and Father worried on his milk cows. The eerie sameness of their Chins, cheekbones, and noses Camouflaged the cogs and flywheels Just behind their eyes.
Romans one week Soldiers the next Cowboys or outlaws after that Interchangeable all-Americans. Lots of work during the War People needed entertainment And to feel patriotic And to buy war bonds. We did our part Served on the Home front You tell anybody who asks We did our part.
She arrived by sea In the belly of a ship Three little boys And a baby on her hip Little Mama Truckey Barely 4 foot two Kicked out of Europe Now she’s gunning for you. She had herself A sweet little gang Four little monsters For the price of a bang Satan’s boy scout troop … Read moreThe Truckey Boys
Henry was known For his smelling A nose above most He was telling The difference between Musk Or shaved coconut Husk With an olfactory Beyond measure And satisfactorily Giving pleasure To ladies and men Within his ken As a perfumer whose scents Were without precedence. A grassy meadow in June Barnacled boats neath the moon … Read moreSense Defense
A farm family’s stormy middle child An out of season tornado Ready to rain blows On anything in his path. His parents Hoping to channel his Menacing energy Bought a third-hand tricycle Dented, chipped, and bent. Spinning furiously Vibrating with resolve Terry blustered Over Hardpan roads. His brother A would-be tricycle thief Suffered the dust … Read moreTerry the Tempest
Beneath my Covid mask My 4-year-old grandson Can’t tell what’s coming next. Do a cow, he says And I slowly work my way To a bold Baaaaa! That’s a sheep! He protests with glee And says Do it again. I roll my eyes Pretend to take a deep breath And let out A gentle meow. … Read morePandemic Repeat Cycle
Resting on a seabedA Japanese clay potTied to a ropeOffers refugeTo a shy octopus. The pot isPulled to the surfaceBut the octopusWill not attempt escapeFeeling safeInside the Takotsubo trap. Deep within a chestChambers of the heart weakenThen fail, and balloonTaking on the shapeOf a Japanese clay potResting on a seabed. Takotsubo syndromeTriggered by a sudden … Read moreOctopus Heart
Strings of light filling empty streets Storefronts’ cheerful glow asleep Downtown’s bustle paused. The sound of snowflakes On my hat and coat As tire tracks fade in a silent snow.
Oil lamps flickered inside the Whale’s Teat filling it with dim, orange light. Black curls of smoke mixed with the peppery haze from pipes, cigars, and rolled cigarettes. A brown halo ringed the spittoons marking the patrons’ poor aim. A sour potpourri of sawdust, beer, and manure covered the floor. Every night dock workers filled … Read moreThe Belly of the Whale