HOWL. Meramec s Student Poetry Cafe

Transcription

1 HOWL Meramec s Student Poetry Cafe

2 HOWL Selected poems from the October 21, 2003 Meramec Student Poetry Cafe

3 Brian Akers Game Day Chain link fences are outfield walls. 25,000 fans are represented by mom As she watches through the backdoor window. Dad is on the mound. I tap my shoes with the skinny plastic bat And glare at the big right hander. A silence breaks over the crowd As the perforated plastic ball Starts inside, breaks across the plate, A curve ball I m all over. The yellow bat whistles through the air, The crowd rises to its feet As the ball sails over the center field wall. Dad goes into the alley to retrieve the ball As I round the bases, triumphant. The crowd rips into an uproar and watches proudly As only a mother can.

4 Nellie Apple I Never Knew Scott Crawford September 1992 August 1993 October 1993 February 1995 May 1986 April 1997 October 1998 November 1999 August 2000 October 2001 My dad had his first of two heart attacks. He died on the operating table, but they brought him back to life. Dan Reeves, my dad s best friend, died in a car accident while taking his nephew to the airport. My Uncle Johnny died in a nursing home, just after surgery on his brain. My grandpa Ridenour died of lung cancer right after the docters had given him three months to live. My grandpa Apple walked in the house smoking a cigarette and eating KFC while he told us he had colon cancer. My grandma Ridenour died of heart failure after spending several weeks in the hospital. My best friend Rusty Larabell collapsed during a high school football game. He died after being in a coma for ten days. Randal Miller died after crashing into a wall in Tower Park. And Abbie Saxon died after being shot in the stomach three times. Scott Crawford, the track coach at Wentzville High School died in his office from a heart attack. I never met him, but I went to the funeral in support of my friends. Mike Nixon died after his friend put heroine in his drink, which caused him to overdose.

5 Michael Cobb Simply Only Walking softly through the woods Every step sounds like thunder. I think I am alone But I am not alone. The crickets sing their song of joy. The path is untraveled. Weeds are thick and the trees Leaves are blowing freely as An eagle soars through the air. The mold is thick Like something is depriving you of air. The trees seem fearless Even though they are on the way to the dead.

6 Stephanie Hall Backstage In bounds a red headed girl with pigtails. Bye Mom, you ll see me soon! Just like that the stagehand gives her the costume and she runs to the nearest Bathroom stall. Off comes her spongebob shirt and jeans and keds. Replaced with a top hat, gloves, fishnets, and a little black dress. Glued to the makeup chair. Caked in black kohl eyeliner, crimson lip Gloss, eye shadow and body glitter. Her pigtails are axed for loosely curled ringlets. She looks at her new Marylinfied self and says, What will mom think?

7 Larah Halter Alleyway Stern looking, Square faced, middle aged man Pulling out a pad and pen In the gloom of an alley. Behind him The muffled sound From his car radio Broke the awkward silence. Only the flicker of a streetlight Hovering above, watching him, Flamingo necked, Write a parking ticket. One is reminded of the thrill Of a speed chase, Criminals locked in handcuffs And left behind bars. Now the rush Of capturing crooks Limited to a leaky pen In an alley black as ink.

8 Krista Pohl She Was My Mother Karen told everyone in Springfield she was my mother, and that she was proud to be a prostitute. But when we were high or making love she told me that we were meant to be together and that she d much rather be a Madame. She would slur with crazed eyes right before she snaked her tongue through my lips and asked me to come to Cabool with her. Of course she would ruin it by suggesting I have sex with a meth head for a few hits. She would mend my wounds with, You re supposed to be my beautiful baby, baby. As it was, I ended up in Ash Grove with bloody pants and never saw her again.

9 Chris Recker Quitting The music is loud and blaring as The pipe goes by her. She wonders Whose turn it is in the card game. The pipe Is almost around again, and she realizes it s hers. She goes for a walk And contemplates whether a bowl or two Would help her sleep. Later, as she walks the house in her Bra and thong, she wonders If she should have spent the money. She calls up a friend and asks if He wants to come over and help her smoke some Stuff. She explains how she s not going to Buy anymore and that she s going to quit.

10 Howl Student Poetry Cafe October 21, 2003 St. Louis Community College Meramec Big Bend Boulevard St. Louis, MO