October 2017
From 2011 until November 2015 I was Poet Laureate of Vermont, during which time I visited 116 Vermont community libraries, not so much to read but to talk about what poetry can do that other modes of discourse can't. I loved the Q&A the most, because those within the academy often ask things that show how much they think they know, whereas library patrons are inclined to ask the important things: Who's talking here? To whom? Why? Where? I hope my poems can answer those questions, that no one needs some special knowledge or language to penetrate them. My twelfth collection of poems, NO DOUBT THE NAMELESS, is just out, as is my fourth collection of personal essays, WHAT'S THE STORY? REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE GROWN LONG. www.sydneylea.net
Copper-Color Hummer
he drive copper-color hummer
and all time got he shoe shinybright
he friend with bartender
and wave at man clean park at night
he always on treadmill but he do eat
steak that thick
and he still think old budweiser great
he head all slick
he call it product that goop
and he hair cut clean cross neck
he care what he look like true
you should or you dont get respect
he grump about government
but keep blessin stars and stripes
he nice to he girlfriend
what the hell don’t matter she still gripe
he take her out to dinner and dj
ought to see the places they go
like Spottys right off freeway
he once had him pontiac gto
he think to heself man that the good time
good good music too
he still frug like he out of he mind
same way he always did
but he think real music all gone
not like when he a kid
go on laugh about frankie avalon
but damn just ask your heart
seem most of the good stuff gone
go ahead call him old fart
he like call up sports talk show
he just like to make a point
he tell sports jock coach gotta go
he wonder where old players went
he don’t like gettin older either
better back in a day he say
don’t like he whole damn world gettin older
still he never miss superbowl no way
nohow but makin long story shorter
no matter she old too and you can say all over
man he like time with that hot Madonna
specially in he copper-color hummer
© 2017 Sydney Lea
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