poetry | james carter

Clichéd Dream:

Wake.

Inhale.

Scream.

Cynicism surges.

Passé, blasé.

Intensely indignant.

Garrote wishes.

Cultivate compassion.

Now…

january vegetation

Dead,
Decorative,
Snow-dusted
Cabbage
Dot the Art Deco building’s
Foundation.

Dry
Pine Trees
Rot
On the curb
Across from
Cold cabbage.

Matching Hello Kitties
(One Pink, One Baby Blue)
Walk 6th Ave,
Heads Half Off,
Revealing Middle-aged,
Latina,
Identical Twin Sisters.

Acela screams
Past tombstones,
Shading Dead from
Morning sun.
One last
Bit of Black
Before Living rise,
Ruining all the Fun.

Erhus & saxophones
Serenade
Mahjong Men
Clustered in Columbus Park
(Former Five Points).
Flip & slap.
Points & shouts.
Monday afternoon.