Love In My Cup
—Photo by Cynthia Linville, Sacramento
—Poems by William S. Gainer, Grass Valley
READING FOR BURNING MAN
The bar was loud,
some guy was dancing
to the light show—
blue dots,
no music,
alone,
he had the moves …
The kid in the Army suit—
with the little
branding irons
brought his machine
inside.
It was like hearing
a jet plane
when he fired the thing
off.
The sound system
had its problems
Jesse tried,
several times.
He tried.
I cut the reading short,
about half.
When I was leaving
the guy working
the door said,
I really liked your stuff,
Ed.
________________________
TEXAS FIREFLIES
You saw them?
I'm jealous.
Did you let out a gentle
sigh,
lean up
against someone—
a little closer?
Set your iced tea down—
leave a cool evening kiss
on warm cheek.
Fireflies
do that
to people,
at least they should …
________________________
ONE TEAR AWAY
She had that smile,
you know that smile,
the bad news smile.
She told me what they said
the best results
possibilities
things they could try.
I wanted to say
I’ll miss you
but you don’t
say those things
at least
you’re not supposed to.
We set close
one tear away
from screaming
wanting to know
why
and hoping
goodbye
takes a long time
to say.
_________________________
THE TREE TRIMMERS
The Mexican kids
showed up
to trim the trees
from the power lines.
They did it
very gently.
The jays and sparrows
didn’t seem
to notice.
Even the young oaks
didn’t act scared.
Twenty minutes later
the squirrels returned
to their gossip.
Two houses down
the work continued.
________________________
AN EVENING IN KANSAS
The tornado—
twenty minutes
in the storm shelter.
Climbing out
she falls to her knees
screams thanks
to a vengeful god
the kids
cling
scared.
The old man
surveys the damage
in a low breath
mumbles
Christ
I just mowed
the lawn.
None of it
makes sense
not even
the quiet.
_______________________
KAE ST. MARIE IS AT IT WITH COMCAST:
They want to raise the rates,
but with that
you get the improved package—
it includes a home security system.
She says
if it doesn’t come with a drone
she doesn’t want
anything
to do with it.
I am with her on this one,
it would be nice
to buzz the neighborhood
a few times a day.
_______________________
Today's LittleNip:
ENOUGH TO END ON
As long as I got
a couple of bucks
can sniff out
a warm bar stool
have the strength
to tell one
listen to one—
another lie
wander home
and dream
they were all true—
the lies.
That’s enough.
_______________________
The bar was loud,
some guy was dancing
to the light show—
blue dots,
no music,
alone,
he had the moves …
The kid in the Army suit—
with the little
branding irons
brought his machine
inside.
It was like hearing
a jet plane
when he fired the thing
off.
The sound system
had its problems
Jesse tried,
several times.
He tried.
I cut the reading short,
about half.
When I was leaving
the guy working
the door said,
I really liked your stuff,
Ed.
________________________
TEXAS FIREFLIES
You saw them?
I'm jealous.
Did you let out a gentle
sigh,
lean up
against someone—
a little closer?
Set your iced tea down—
leave a cool evening kiss
on warm cheek.
Fireflies
do that
to people,
at least they should …
________________________
ONE TEAR AWAY
She had that smile,
you know that smile,
the bad news smile.
She told me what they said
the best results
possibilities
things they could try.
I wanted to say
I’ll miss you
but you don’t
say those things
at least
you’re not supposed to.
We set close
one tear away
from screaming
wanting to know
why
and hoping
goodbye
takes a long time
to say.
_________________________
THE TREE TRIMMERS
The Mexican kids
showed up
to trim the trees
from the power lines.
They did it
very gently.
The jays and sparrows
didn’t seem
to notice.
Even the young oaks
didn’t act scared.
Twenty minutes later
the squirrels returned
to their gossip.
Two houses down
the work continued.
________________________
AN EVENING IN KANSAS
The tornado—
twenty minutes
in the storm shelter.
Climbing out
she falls to her knees
screams thanks
to a vengeful god
the kids
cling
scared.
The old man
surveys the damage
in a low breath
mumbles
Christ
I just mowed
the lawn.
None of it
makes sense
not even
the quiet.
_______________________
KAE ST. MARIE IS AT IT WITH COMCAST:
They want to raise the rates,
but with that
you get the improved package—
it includes a home security system.
She says
if it doesn’t come with a drone
she doesn’t want
anything
to do with it.
I am with her on this one,
it would be nice
to buzz the neighborhood
a few times a day.
_______________________
Today's LittleNip:
ENOUGH TO END ON
As long as I got
a couple of bucks
can sniff out
a warm bar stool
have the strength
to tell one
listen to one—
another lie
wander home
and dream
they were all true—
the lies.
That’s enough.
_______________________
Our thanks to today's contributors, all of whom will be included in the new issue of Rattlesnake Press's WTF! which will be released at Luna's Cafe this coming Thursday night, 8pm. Editor frank andrick is in Sutter General Hospital right now, though (Rm. 5414, Bed 2) after having surgery following some complications from his kidney biopsy. He's hoping to be home in a day or two, and to be hosting at Luna's on Thursday. Think good thoughts for him.
This is a very busy weekend in NorCal poetry! Scroll down to the blue box (under the green box) on the right for details of the many readings.
______________________
—Medusa
—Photo by Wendy Rivara, Sacramento
