poet, interviewer, musician, traveler
the moment I knew for sure I liked David Rovics
I remember he finished singing the line
“Coke is the drink of the death squads”
picked up a Coke, looked at the audience
said, “Hey, it’s a complicated world”
/ / /
16 April 2021
State College PA
for David Rovics
questions for the dog
why are you the best dog ever?
but seriously why?
was there some sort of ceremony?
did you get an injection of superdog serum?
do you have a royal title or a summer palace?
also do you like kimchi fried rice?
is that why you’re one inch
from the bowl I’m holding?
isn’t it too spicy for you?
again: why are you the best dog ever?
/ / /
15 April 2021
State College PA
for Bristol
no child
no child deserves to be punched
or to have love taken away on a whim
no child should live in fear
or find themselves suddenly on the street
no child earns self-loathing
or a lifetime of questioned relationships
no child needs to become an adult
under the weight of a childhood like this
no child needs to forgive, to forget
or to remain in contact like bondage
I am no child
I am no child
I am no child
/ / /
14 April 2021
State College PA
for my parents
I remember there was a bat involved
actually you remember there was a bat
& I remember it because you’ve told me
my childhood is a deep dark well
but you’ve sent the bucket down
to bring back a treasure or two
I’m shedding my old ideas of family
because blood isn’t a strong enough tie
but even if we weren’t related I’d choose you
& not just because you remember the bat
/ / /
13 April 2021
State College PA
for Lynne Harting
a poem for myself
I’m driving through Virginia
listening to Tommy Emmanuel
on a playlist I made in different times
I was going to write this poem about you
but I decided to write it about me instead
because I need to take back your space
in my head
you used to say you liked my singing
well I like my singing too
& lots of people could love a weathered guy
who sings “King Of Wishful Thinking”
at the top of his voice
as he passes one semi after another
I’m starting to believe this road
could take me somewhere better
& in any case this is a real good playlist
/ / /
12 April 2021
Verona VA
for me
fatherhood
why didn’t you come looking for me?
sure we moved around but a little effort
would have made all the difference
thirty years later we met in your trailer
ten years after that I stood at your mother’s grave
this has been a time of shedding my past
I have three living parents
I don’t speak to any of them
you cant sail with the anchor down
/ / /
11 April 2021
Newnan GA
for Art Borders
real Georgia hospitality
the first one brought me to a garage
near a grocery store
the second to a garage
near a few restaurants
one asked if I had a way to heat the van
the other made sure he found me a level place
both got me out of the rain
made sure I was safe
for no other reason than being good people
my friend said people will show you
their humanity once they see yours
he’s right & that’s what I hold onto
when the rain comes
/ / /
10 April 2021
Newnan GA
for my two tow truck drivers
it was my understanding there would be no math on this
a vi-
gin-
tillion
is a
one
with
s i x t y – t h r e e
zeroes
you can
look it up
/ / /
9 April 2021
Auburn AL
for John McCurry
fantasy
you listened to “Flesh For Fantasy”
I played Fantasy Wargaming
you rode dirt bikes
I listened to 70s prog rock
you seemed impossibly cool
a rebellious teen in a milquetoast town
now I know more about what it took
for you to be who you were
& what it cost
to be who you weren’t
I’ve always loved you
& respected your honesty
even though I’ve let years pass
without a word
Ani told us not to close our eyes
thanks for helping to open mine
///
8 April 2021
Auburn, AL
for Christian Holland
for Sarah W
it was clear from the first moment
you walked into the studio
that life would be sunnier with you in it
there are people who bring the light with them, you know?
all these years later & you’re running life’s rapids
mapping out the territory for those who follow
carrying the weight for those who can’t
the family we choose is our real family
/ / /
7 April 2021
Auburn AL
wheat
yesterday I drove past the wheat field
where you pulled me to the ground
kissed me like our time was up
which it very nearly was
a few weeks between admission & ending
a small window through which to view
a world we couldn’t reach
you’re the last of the volumes to put away
beside childhood dreams & lost geographies
then I’ll close the door on this old library
let the wheat grow over the remains
/ / /
6 April 2021
Auburn AL
for F
knitted people
& double reeds
& the children of librarians
& linguistic machines
& old Soviet republics
& various Indian cuisines
& a bench in the side yard
& Genesis until Pete left
& cool specs under curly hair
& neighborhood walks
& the birth of my first son
& the time I missed your wedding
& popping up here and there
& Buffalo for some goddamn reason
& mostly I’m just glad you’re around
/ / /
5 April 2021
Auburn, AL
for Jenn Cornish
handstands
you both spend so much time upside-down
doesn’t the blood rush to your heads?
do you think of gravity as a force pulling
upwards?
every therapist talks about balance
if I could get my body to float above my wrists
I feel like I’d be most of the way there
/ / /
4 April 2021
Auburn, Alabama
for Melinda and Andrew
While I was doing the dishes
you leaned down to kiss the top of my head
it used to be the other way around
but the tables have turned
I won’t say “you’ll always be my little boy”
because that can be a weapon
I’m not who I was and you won’t be either
so instead I’ll say “I’ll always be your dad”
that can mean whatever you need it to
& whenever you need me I’ll be there
/ / /
3 April 2021
Jonesville NC
for Bernie Crane
stitch me an egg
stitch me an egg
stitch me a shroom
stitch me a venus fly trap
you’re in your domino-colored van
with the same name as a superman villain
but much nicer, of course
how is it you’ve arrived (two decades in)
at realizations that have taken me twice as long
extra smarts, I guess
& bravery
& fake mustaches
& cacti
it’s funny how paths cross
or don’t
out in the big wide world
/ / /
2 April 2021
State College, PA
for Jen Zetina