this poem was written for john dorsey in the el bronco bar, richmond indiana chill as fuck across gossamer ohio through endless western sunset babe, I'm sorry it was you cancer took to the prom when friends hear you're together they freeze in existential headlights brother, I'm sorry that grief doles out shitty drunk lap dances no care if those duckets ever roost in a g string john, I promise fried chicken and all world shaking doom allows in less time than a waffle house day I'll be on the horn to gus's soon as I kill the engine in the sky high pie parking lot maplewood is an armadillo away over dinner the other night I said magic and loss I say it often, in and out of context a friend replied, with enough time served magic doesn't hold sway over the ocean of loss we worship at now I can't say I disagree except the waitress who calls me amigo like I've never left just delivered a grande margarita in the hum of three hundred easy miles and the shine of tequila I won't want to buy a camper but I have the receipt for short walk in lights between speedway and meijer lights that stretch from here as far as midwest wherever you know I'll be there soon
About the Author: Jason Baldinger is a poet and photographer from Pittsburgh, PA. He’s penned fifteen books of poetry the newest of which include: A History of Backroads Misplaced: Selected Poems 2010- 2020 (Kung Fu Treachery), and This Still Life (Kung Fu Treachery) with James Benger. His first book of photography, Lazarus, as well as two ekphrastic collaborations (with Rebecca Schumejda and Robert Dean) are forthcoming. His work has appeared across a wide variety of online sites and print journals. You can hear him from various books on Bandcamp and on lps by The Gotobeds and Theremonster. His etsy shop can be found under the tag la belle riviere.
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Image Credit: John Margolies: “Package liquor store, Cheyenne, Wyoming” (2004) Public domain image courtesy of the Library of Congress
As It Ought To Be 