Series Poems

1965
A carnival on a warm evening;
Getting ready: green-glass
Packaging; fifteen years
Old and hormonal
The cologne became a
Part of him; newly released
And instantly popular he
Doused himself; it seeped
Into his skin – into his
Pores; and seemingly into
His bloodstream: evoking
A raw energy of excitement;
His curly Jewish locks
Curtained his face; Elvis Presley
Mock-sideburns; dark,
Thick sunglasses; a button
Down shirt and khakis; Brut
Mixed with sweat and lavishly
Coated in pheromones; He
Circuitously wandered:
Weaving through neighbors
And fancifully colored rides;
The scent working as
An astute path for a female
Admirer to easily track.

1995
Sitting at the kitchen table
His black leather hat and
Benson and Hedges Menthols
In front of him beside his wallet;
He’d snack on honey roasted
Peanuts and chocolate covered
Pretzels; cans of diet coke. His
Feet: outstretched and folded –
Watching the sci-fi network while
The hamburger helper began to
Boil on the stove. His curly
Jewish locks would struggle
To cover the bald spot
That rested like a yarmulke.
Sweat glistened on his scalp –
Drawing unwanted attention.
Expecting company he would
Retreat to the bathroom and
Gussy up; a comb over; a
Teeth brushing; and Brut.
The scent festooned him and
Trailed the hallway to the living
Room; dinner was almost ready.

2005
At a hotel in Buffalo Grove. His
Nephews Bar mitzvah; family in
From out of town. French toast;
Sausage links that mocked his
Swollen fingers; coffee with one
Cream and one Equal sweetener;
A family portrait to mark the event:
The last one ever taken; sad
Glances from distant relatives;
Looks of pity; his ballooned torso
Over stretching his sweats; sunken,
Puffy eyes; brut cologne overlaid
The stench of him: unable to bathe
Himself – he doused. His black and
Gray Jewish locks veiled his bald
Spot; he playfully topped with a
Yarmulke – defeated. 

 © March 2012