4-2-01
the way that woman speaks is fantastic: smoothly spreading on self-
indulgence—like one who wears suede just to stroke it: a forced velvet voice
large snacking man won’t share the sidewalk; one has to walk a-
round large wiping-mouth-with-back-of-hand man won’t share the sidewalk
large yellow signs preach: STAY ALERT; WATCH FOR DUI DRIVERS; SLOW DOWN,
SAVE A LIFE; DO NOT TAILGATE in round black letters, enforcing long into the night.
<f I ever hear some guy you’re dating pulling up with that shi…that……“music” playing
in his car, I’ll tell you right now, I’ve got a shotgun and a shovel, that’s for damn sure
he smoothes his bedhair, crams clothes from last night in a bag and goes to church, where
she calls him to bring back her jeans that he mistook for his in the dim morning light.
doormen sit cross-armed and glare at patrons leaving the bar, prying eyes
into pockets and purses, prodding for pilsners, scanning for shot glasses.
the city of Johnstown has upped funding for new police arms and declared a full-fledged
war on violent crime because the city of Johnstown says it doesn’t like violence
she hates tea but sips it anyway because her springpollensensitive throat has needed
soothing and with an upcoming performance, singers can’t have sore throats.
