|
the thin poem
the
thin
poem
has
a
few
solid
rules:
one
or
two
or
three
words
at the most
to
a
line
and
keep
the
subject
simple
don't
muddy
the
reader's
brain
with
poems
about
suicide
or
adolescence
or
the
loss
of
beauty
or
innocence
or
some
crazy
time
someone
had
at
a
drive-in
movie
a
hundred
years
ago
on
a
hot
sticky
night
with
a
godzilla-like
monster
filling
the
screen
while
they
were
sprawled
out
on
the
backseat
of
an
old
chevy
(and
why
is
it
always
an old
chevy?)
thin
poems
should
not
explore
orgasms
or
the
rumblings
of
gastrointestinal
distress
or
menstruation
or
descriptions
of
the
napes
of
necks
or
the
sizes
of
breasts
or
the
way
certain
people
use
their
bodies
in
moments
of
intense
passion
thin
poems
should
center
on
lofty
themes
romantic
ideals
and
maybe
sometimes
even
ponder
the
existence
of
god
you
could
also
write
a
pretty
good
thin
poem
about
a
spider
skimming
along
a
gossamer
thread
but
i
think
that
one's
probably
already
been
done
to
death
A Death on Elm Street
I. The Assassin
Rising on
an ancient freight elevator,
smoke and dust
suck oxygen
from his puny lungs
At the warehouse window,
he assumes a darker mask,
his bony finger
tracing the trigger's curve,
his beady eyes narrowing in
on the slow moving target:
that famous sculpted
head of state
so perfect
in the plaza light
Finally he will plummet -
a bruised puppet
slipping through
a surreal night,
a phantom of smoke and dust
blinking in the glare
of a Dallas lineup
II. The First Lady
Her deep whispery voice
unspools a reel of film:
crowds, blinding sun,
a promise of shade
in the distance,
then a sudden odd quizzical look
on her husband's face
She recalls that moment
of slow motion shock:
that serrated piece of his skull
floating lazily
in a blur
toward
her
bright
pink
lap
Vernon Waring: The poetry of Vernon Waring has been published in Anthology, Stylus, Alabama School of Fine Arts Quarterly,
Midwestern University Quarterly and The Writer. On-line credits include the Prairie Home Companion, Starving
Arts Literary Magazine and poetic inhalation web sites. His short fiction and poetry have also appeared in
Ascent Aspirations on-line literary journal. He resides in Philadelphia.
Email: Vernon Waring
Return to Table of Contents
|
