The Poetry Project

“even better, add a smile”

James Barickman

------------------o.k. now
wheels are turning
-------i’ve taken some drugs.

cori texts b there soon!
/ moon so big ---------- looming
like a dad
who asks whether or not
i believe in god
--------------------------------- ohhhhhh boy

you see, i wanted this whole idea
like a balcony looking over the yard

-------- & from here
--------------------------------- you could
practically smell it
: ------- the burning terminal
a mouth-breather’s high
tripping the scent
of some greater mystery.

From here, i get a certain lay
of what’s to come------ a sneak listen
this fucking guy
--------adrift in his
--------nice little haze
--------before circumstance.
who’d a thought----- he’d get this far?
one broad sweep at cave fire

who’d a thought-----they’d burn
& for so long
------------------For that matter
who’d a thought------POETRY
would be the worst part
of the New York subway?

you see, what i want outta my transit’s
a pounding to set your watch by

Wheels that turn the heft
into lightning-;-a lady-
robot reminding you to always
stay aware of your surroundings

while a male one demands you

bruise easy--and
recover quick.

Issue 15

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