only occasionally
do the rumors
seem to be true.
-
fear of clowns in Cincinatti
sidewalk steams heat
up ’round ankles exposed by
rolled-up jeans and
on this side
Ohio lets her guard
slowly down….just enough to miss
a creeping chill
approaching-
painted
five-day beard, cigarette
smoke curls
like a menace grina gnarled hand lurches sudden —
and Kentucky turns away
disgusted
there is no one
left to help.
-
black tie affair (who is she?!)
tongue finding left hand
she slowly licks gold
pulls it gently with teethchampagne on their lips
“You’re truly my one”
legs wrap ’round his convincingwhile She watches the phone
she swallows his ring
spits coyly the consequence
-
you say in Chicago (never trust a jazz man)
you say in Chicago
you came to know
Miles Davis.
Miles Davis!
lies! you should know
you can never know
anyone
especially a jazz man
think of all that
im prov isat ion, think
of all that so lo in g!
-
when he played "The Pretender"
blue crabs stroll
along the night surface
of water that before
looked just like
chocolate silk and
there is this girl,
she sits alone hood
to block the wind and
behind her two women
call woooo wooos
to Jackson Browne while
a man smokes solo
next to a prudish streetlight
the yellow beer guys
carry their loads and
there is this man
he mumbles as he walks
to work his second shift
and the boaters honk
horns in approval
holding hands and rocking
while a vast sea
sings along decades past.[jackson browne played pier 6 in baltimore tonight.
http://www.ilike.com/artist/Jackson+Browne/track/The+Pretender ]
-
rainy day poetry
try a search on “rain” and see what you get……. it drips its way into so many of my poems….
-
riding my bike at night (and Russian classical music)
riding fast
down the center yellow lane
no cars
no stops at the signs
(quick turn)
down back alleys
thinking,
i’ve spent my whole entire life
rejecting
everyone
(swerve to avoid a
winter
pothole)
i’ve never felt so ____
as riding this bike
now, darkened city sleeping,
(hop the curb)
and at home,
when i arrive
the Russian classical
echoes alone in
the apartment,
furtive
(minor) steps along-
side my own.
Poetry by JC Snyder 