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
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
