One Day in L.A.
Locals enjoy bragging about an encounter
between Bukowski, poet avant-garde
and Breakfast at Tiffany’s A. Hepburn
stylish grace and beauty epitomized
collided with scandal and nefarious
in front of a midtown liquor store
a locale Bukowski was intimate with
Audrey searching for an upscale spa
Bukowski recognized her instantly
who would not know Funny Face?
she was undone by his appearance
it rarely failed to startle the sober
he addressed her as “Miss Hepburn”
and offered her his last cigarette
the year was 1992 and nearly over
they would soon run out of autumns
He told her he composed great love poetry
the actress laughed and softly smiled
“I fear I never knew many of those,”
opening her car door Audrey paused
asked what he thought love was about
“Relentless acceptance” was his quick reply
that’s what happened when the actress
met the wisest man in the entire world
WHY HER?
The use of a former girlfriends’ name
In my poem prompts the wife to ask
“Why?” I shrug and hear “Why her?”
followed by “Why her and not me?”
the poem works better with the name
which is true but truth’s a bitter pill
conversation sours like day old cream
the sex is not as sweet and soon there
is no sex she whispers the damn poem
in her sleep then the poem is published
the entire world now asks “Why her?”
I think it can’t get worse until one night
I get a call a voice who asks “Why me?”
SABBATICAL
a poem is
a vacation
an exit
or entry to
or from
a place
sans wings
without ticket
or freight
a place
of intrigue
and no wait
Locals enjoy bragging about an encounter
between Bukowski, poet avant-garde
and Breakfast at Tiffany’s A. Hepburn
stylish grace and beauty epitomized
collided with scandal and nefarious
in front of a midtown liquor store
a locale Bukowski was intimate with
Audrey searching for an upscale spa
Bukowski recognized her instantly
who would not know Funny Face?
she was undone by his appearance
it rarely failed to startle the sober
he addressed her as “Miss Hepburn”
and offered her his last cigarette
the year was 1992 and nearly over
they would soon run out of autumns
He told her he composed great love poetry
the actress laughed and softly smiled
“I fear I never knew many of those,”
opening her car door Audrey paused
asked what he thought love was about
“Relentless acceptance” was his quick reply
that’s what happened when the actress
met the wisest man in the entire world
WHY HER?
The use of a former girlfriends’ name
In my poem prompts the wife to ask
“Why?” I shrug and hear “Why her?”
followed by “Why her and not me?”
the poem works better with the name
which is true but truth’s a bitter pill
conversation sours like day old cream
the sex is not as sweet and soon there
is no sex she whispers the damn poem
in her sleep then the poem is published
the entire world now asks “Why her?”
I think it can’t get worse until one night
I get a call a voice who asks “Why me?”
SABBATICAL
a poem is
a vacation
an exit
or entry to
or from
a place
sans wings
without ticket
or freight
a place
of intrigue
and no wait
