Palace Movie Theater, Bergenfield, New Jersey


I came of age in the cinema reels — 
high up in the Palace Theater balcony
feeding on the images like infinite meals.

I marched through deserts with a prophet’s zeal
stormed castles, cities, no matter what sovereignty,
I came of age in the cinema reels.

I learned to fly airplanes and Zepplins by feel
sank German battleships in the Zeider Zee
feeding on the images like infinite meals.

I threw popcorn like grenades over the sticky brass rail,
kamikazied my biplane with a reckless certainty;
I came of age in the cinema reels

I practiced a British accent with a certain appeal
learned a southern drawl sipping juleps and mint tea
feeding on the images like infinite meals

I once let fly my half-finished coke and lemon peel
the ice soared and sparkled like a celestial sea;
I came of age in the cinema reels — 
feeding on the images like infinite meals.

originally published NEBO, 2013.



The Break Up

 
You told me that love felt like a pair of handcuffs;
the reasons are not clear even to me;
you are too old for this seeming teenage angst.
 
Last night, you fell asleep on my couch
after we came home from dinner;
you told me that love felt like a pair of handcuffs.
 
I watched TV and massaged your feet,
but you pushed me away when I touched your breast;
you are too old for this seeming teenage angst.
 
Instead of sex, I listened to you snore;
you woke up once and belched then fell asleep again.
You told me that love felt like a pair of handcuffs.
 
“Is it still raining?” you said in your sleep;
I didn’t need the whole rain forest, just one leaf;
you are too old for this seeming teenage angst.
 
In the letter you complain, twice, that I have not called,
but I stopped caring long before that;
you told me that love felt like a pair of handcuffs;
you are too old for this seeming teenage angst.

originally published in The New Ulster, 2016.