Two Poems

 

Joanna Fuhrman

 

 

 

 

Smoke and Vinegar

 

 

so we left the house

with our hope my friend

and we slipped

 

between the sagging

scotch egg bankers

and the drunk doll kiddos

 

spiked handshakes

coiled with metal genital

tongue depressors

 

a foot so large

our daylight’s

vanished, done.

 

 

 

 

To the Tune of “Late Empire Afternoon”

 

 

Jelly bean, black sheep,

dried clementine

 

For want of a tongue,

we borrow screaming

 

A loose tooth sings riddles

in the lady chamber

 

A small mouth hides ditties

in the prince’s mitt

 

O god of motherhood,

in your terrycloth

 

toilet paper cover

and tinted cellophane,

 

rid us of flimflam

doodads and riddles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joanna Fuhrman is the author of five books of poetry, most recently The Year of Yellow Butterflies (Hanging Loose Press, 2015) and Pageant (Alice James Books, 2009).

 

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