More Gogyohka Poetry

smoke from fire
and southwestern dust
paints
a wicked veil
and smothers my soul


orange sherbet
sun sinks
tucks its
creamy tail
into the horizon


mockingbird
lands on nearby branch
watches me
wind up
the garden hose


jumpy sparrow
turns and flitters
at every angle
on a
King Pine branch


blinding sun punctures
my pupils
sunspots
dance
at every blink

Free Tickets

I appealed to him dressed like a lady –
in skirt, blouse, curly perm.

A New Orleans local chauffeured
me around town, rattled on
about his life. He bought tickets for us
to hear Clifton Chenier, great Zydeco player.
Car backfired over a loud muffler.
Fire ignited under the hood. I bailed.

He muttered something about driving
his car home. Handed me the tickets.
I stood on the curb laughing.

Watched him zoom down the road,
fire smoldered upward
from cracks under the hood.
Smoke billowed out the back end.
"THANKS FOR THE TICKETS!"

Enjoyed myself listening to Clifton Chenier
at the downtown night club. Shook my buns
that night with two handsome tourist guys.