Pancaked

 

—Poetry by Joseph Gant, New Jersey

PANCAKED

I sit in a booth


at the Salem Oak diner


the seats are off-pink vinyl


a tired hooker's lipstick


waitresses with neck tattoo

s
carry steaming plates


of other people's satisfaction
I'll never be a rich man


I think to tell the girl


but I can eat and pay rent


in the same week


so let's kill this pig together


I back out in silence
breaking news on the television—


Neil Young has filed for divorce


it's 10 am when my pancakes arrive


and I've yet to hit on the waitress.

 

 

 

 

 

FOR ANNE

we’re here on Unit A again
where doors have fallen
walkways
I push my rusted walker to the courtyard
for generic smoke break
cancer that taste like tears
and broken legs

I tried to flee
on my donkey again
and here she is
drama of the one-time queen
she pulls hard twice
exhales and smiles
another mistake
I look away
13th stepping in the mental ward
never paid good dividends

I crack the spine
on a vinyl mattress,
throw my busted hip in bed
and try to read again

I used to bring Sylvia
with me
when I’d check in here
on Unit A
but Live or Die
I’ve graduated
lights out now
medications
never time to read.

 

 

 

 

 

SNAP

unconditional and misguided
arms crossed
full of all the indignation
and defiance
heaven ever dared for us to carry
brown fingertips
my blistered thumb
and ash beneath my nails
extinguishing the mirror's shine
the novel ended there
where you passed the butt
of the gun and said
go first and I will swallow
and dreams of our forever
spin around inside the barrel

____________________

Today’s LittleNip:

BETA
—Joseph Gant

pushing zeroes
and ones
through the veins
of god
like fentanyl dreams
and the dope show
we break /
reduced as sum
compiling cold pharmacopeia

____________________

Our new visitor to the Kitchen today is Joseph Gant, who is a writer and cyber activist from New Jersey. His creative work has appeared in small press and academic projects as well as books with Rebel Satori Press. Today’s poems are from his forthcoming book, Exiled From Stars (Rebel Satori Press). His technical writing has appeared in various cybersecurity blogs. When he's not messing with Open Source and Small Press projects, he is adding to his collection of Pink Floyd bootlegs. Welcome to the Kitchen, Joseph, and don’t be a stranger!

Poetry Unplugged will be happening at Luna’s Cafe in Sacramento tonight, or check out Chill Vibez in Cesar Chavez Plaza. Click UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS at the top of this column for details about these and other future poetry events in the NorCal area.

____________________

—Medusa

 

 

 

 Joseph Gant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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