Steve Shickman Six Poems TANYA THE POET Tanya asked to go to school with me. Asked me to show her the way. I knew she was making the game easy. We blushed – we had to give each other the brush-off. She mostly understood and I was very grateful. How did I feel about Tanya the poet? She said life is for living– ruts in the road. THE GIRL AT GROUND ZERO The girl at Ground Zero had long black hair, which smelled like pink roses. I wanted to touch her. She was dressed in a motorcycle jacket and chain-link. She looked at me and said, “Are you the new Johnny?” For a moment, I was dumbstruck. I didn't have a damned word to say. "I’m going to buy a Harley right now, if my credit limit’s enough.” I excused myself and went outside. On the street, the traffic was blaring. I looked at my credit card, then I put it back. It didn’t matter, I had escaped. URBAN STARDUST The stars come down and rest on my shoulder. The moon comes down and rests on my arm. The shining starlight bathes me in pure, blue light. The boys in the projects with their girlfriends tell me to shove clams. BLONDS AND DOGS AND GRASS I wanted all your love. I didn’t get it all, there was not enough to go around. I loved the sweet smell of your breath, high-breaking, whiskey voice. Dressed to the teeth, flashing that smile across your desk. The most beautiful, filthy, hillbilly, rich blond on Earth. Neither one of us knew each other. She told each of us that we were the only one. Now that we know, we only had the pearls, we no more put them on, we no more go to her – She has a husband. Do you have grass on your front lawn? Why do dogs eat grass? So, you feel guilty when you blow a dandelion. I have waited too long to go back to the mountains. I may have left something there. UNTITLED Cans of peaches from the California meat packing company and you donate the farmworkers the cans of peaches they picked themselves for me And I know that I am involved My credentials have the seal of approval Tonight, we eat Cream of Bastard and have sex one more time The peaches are empty and the empty can is sitting there as we use the can for the ashes of cigarettes How far do we have to go to the nearest oak tree? UNTITLED Kentucky Fried Chicken at last! The counter man charges me three times what the crispy strip and the biscuit are worth He thinks I am angry, I'm not angry I knew I was buying a man, dirt cheap