Krazy Kat Caught in an Alley by Kent Chadwick: New Poem Published in Pontoon by Floating Bridge Review

Krazy Kat caught in an alley 

By Kent Chadwick

                        ________

                        ________

                        ___   ___

            Krazy Kat Caught in an alley

                        caterwauling

            night in Garwood

                        New Jersey

            moonlight on the sagging

                        back landings

            drinking men stripped

                        to undershirts

                        ribbed with a

                        working day’s sweat

            the viscosity of bourbon

                        poured into shots

            patterened thump of

                        ball against wall

                        ball against wall

            sound of speed

                        from the street

                        rubber friction

                        gas combustion

            the swamp coolers shake

                        the swamp coolers drip

                        against the heat

“Fireflies don’t come no more.”

            blue auroras stream

                        from each T.V.

                        out window screens

“Turn it down!”

           

            one house shines

                        in new siding

            chain links the brown

                        block’s backyards

                        right angles and shadow

            no sirens tonight

            a kid laughs

            some woman hums

                        the dishes away

“Sit for a week, even this’ll look good.”

“That’s whiskey talking. Throw me a beer, Jake.

It’s all in your head.”

This poem was included in Pontoon, published by Floating Bridge Review (Seattle), Number Four, 2011

All the poems in Pontoon were chosen from manuscripts submitted to the 2011 Floating Bridge Press Poetry Chapbook Award.


Pontoon is available from Floating Bridge Press

Photo: Painter & Poet by Margaret Chadwick

Gregg Chadwick

Detail of Jimmy Buffs

72"x96" oil on linen 1982--1992

Collection: Kent Chadwick