Poems
by Frank De Canio
Pining to Get Bussed
New Jersey transits great for keeping down
blood pressure, if I dont sit back and frown
at crowded buses that take time to come
so that they render sober senses numb.
As such I walk the 16 blocks to wait
where buses to New York originate
from different access regions to the mouth
of the Lincoln Tunnel for the ride out
of Union City into New York. There,
but 20 minutes later, I repair
my sensibilities for all the cost
of getting The Big Apples river crossed.
Intestinally, I still need depends!
For, as Im chasing for one, therere rear ends
of buses telling me to kiss their gas!
Still further, NJ Transit will harass
me when hence forthcoming buses take the fork
in roads to cities other than New York!
Already losing time, I start to cuss,
while waiting ten more minutes for a bus
that seems preferring the suburban route
to cities where our working folk commute.
And even as my senses start to pall
for New York City streets that start with Wall
or Times Square where the yearly ending ball
drops, or Radio City Music Hall,
I see a bus enroute to Mill Creek Mall!
Bedside Manner
It wasnt just enough to lecture me
on the fluidity of gender roles,
while I lay bedbound in your custody.
You got me understanding the controls
society exerts on our lives,
as if I needed guidance to persuade
me of your agency. Forget the drives
endemic to us all. Your fusillade
of mandates advocating womans right
to fluid gender styles was a prepared
confession I was ill-disposed to slight
before a young physician who had fared
so well in life. And seeing me assent
to your imposing ear, you waxed content.
Beseech God
But when you pray dont do as heathens do,
and wish harm comes to those whove done you ill.
Accept the fact they know whats best for you,
and bear their scourge as if it were Gods will.
Nor selfishly deprive them of the same
beneficence that they deem fit and just.
But lest you be accused of pride, or claim
a place above your peers, bequeath it thus
to all who think their strategies are fair.
Petition Heaven that such precious fruits
be properly dispersed to those who care
for justice. Tout the beneficial roots
of all the tactics that good men condemn.
Then pray they favor those supporting them.
Opera Comique
I helped Pierre defend himself last week!
Id never let some bum get off and speak
the way this bully did, about to tweak
Pierres beard. Are you a man or a geek!
I challenged Pierre, goading him to wreak
vengeance and to tone down his yellow streak.
It worked. For the lout didnt even squeak
when, Slam! Wham! Bam! You should have seen the meek
Pierre turn black and blue without a shriek
as the lout unloaded with a unique
blend of punches from his brawny physique
that made Pierres legs crumble like antique
furniture. Of course the roughneck would sneak
away before cops arrived on the bleak
scene. But brave Pierre turned the other cheek,
preferring to consider my critique
that praised the failsafe falls of his technique
in weathering the beating of that freak.
In due course I would dutifully seek
an ambulance. For he was up shits creek.
But why did he just lie there with such pique?
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