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The Adroitly Placed Word

 

Picture of Kenneth Pobo

Kenneth Pobo


Kenneth Pobo's new book GLASS GARDEN is due to be released by WordTech Press in 2008.  His work can be seen at journals such as ForPoetry.com, Three Candles, Southern Ocean Review, Centrifugal Eye, The Adirondack Review, and elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio

HOLLAND-DOZIER-HOLLAND MOMENT

You said loving me would make life
into a carnival and we’d be    up
at the top of the ferris wheel    you
rocked the seat    back and forth
back and forth    laughing hysterically
I kept my eyes closed
Beautiful with each passing day
but for all the cotton candy and strawberry pie
did you think I was   having fun
I wanted the big top to be
a trampoline   so I could leap down
and bounce bounce   not crack my back
or head open
But as soon as love came into my heart
you said we can ride this thing all night
I faked    scared to lose you    why
and said   we can ride as long as you like
which made you laugh like some screwy
bird in a Poe story    but you’re not literary
you looked angry    kept rocking us
till we descended back    to the ground
You turned and you just walked away
said you had friends to meet people
I didn’t know    who wouldn’t understand
so maybe    if I could just disappear
you’d meet me later    maybe
tomorrow at the diner and you slipped
into the crowd    leaving me sticky
fingered   no way to get home    the lights
almost blinding me    laughing strangers
causing me to    run run run    heading
nowhere   quickly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio

A LITTLE WEST OF BOISE

Holding a salt shaker, he turns
from his booth to talk to me. I don’t
know this man.  The plaid shirt
is a nice touch with his black beard. Maybe
he’s a logger.  Or a computer programmer
who plays logger on weekends. 

Hank Williams Jr. moans a song about
being stoned.  Black Beard says,
“I hate ever-body.  Ever-body.  Can’t stand people. 
AT ALL.”  He bites into a bacon strip
like it’s a neck and he’s the guillotine. 
I want him to finish his breakfast, was reading

the Yankees box score.  “Uh huh,” I say,
so originally.  Saved!  A guy blobs down
across from him, orders a coffee. 
They laugh like they’re friends, probably
since school.  Does Black Beard
hate him too?  Mary Ann drops

my bill on my napkin.  I leave half an egg,
one toast, gulp the rest of the o.j., pay.  No one
knows me here.  As I walk out,
Black Beard’s eyes follow me.  I start
the engine, go go go.  Suspicion
changes radio stations all the way to Spokane.  


 

 

 

 

Audio

JUDAS UPGRADED

Dante got off
on punishment.  Betrayers faced

Horror--Judas had to spend eternity
in Satan’s mouth, clearly

quite a pickle to be in, over
30 silver pieces.  Yes,

he wasn’t nice.  It showed greed (or
did he need them for a sick family member?)

and bad judgment.  But Jesus
knew he was going to die anyway—

it’s not like Judas changed anything.
Let’s get some fireproof tongs

to pull him out.  He’s suffered enough.
If famished Satan needs his mouth refilled,

why not fry up some oil executives,
or Ann Coulter or Bill O’Reilley (even

Satan would puke up Dick Cheney), well,
the choices are many, but we’d better

pour Satan gallons of Pepto Bismol.
He’ll need it.  Maybe Judas, freed,

will email Jesus and say,
Hey, I goofed.  Sorry.

 

 

 

 

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