Poetry: David Francis

David Francis

Pep Rally for the Home Team

go to school here

raise children here

have nothing to fear

learn to sew

be able to say ‘no’

on with the show

make things clear

fish off a pier

be of good cheer

serve hors d’oeuvres

mind dangerous curves

control your nerves

don’t bend your ear

start letters ‘Dear’

address them near

***

Greasy Spoon Cup (Perky’s)

I’ll assume these

are stains—

made long ago

they won’t scrape off

and you won’t know

about inside

till it’s too late!

***

Failed Novelist (Pigheaded Phenomenon)

I  

When I was unemployed

the waiters were annoyed

and asked, “What do you do—

how do you keep these hours, you?”

I said, “I am freelance.”

They stared, as if in trance,

and waited, as do waiters.

“I am a translator,”

I said, “for companies.”

They asked, “What are your fees?”

“It varies…it depends.”

I left it at loose ends.

II 

I’m not any good at this

and I don’t know why;

not to keep my hand in

but my foot in the door

always once more

though I know what failure is

with abandon

from time to time I try.

***

Exhalation

How sad to be an observer

of other people’s fervor.

***

Breakfast Downtown (as a Child, with My Father)

The miniature boxes of cereal

mirrored in their glass case,

the doodlebug doubled on the sill

were more my speed in the place.

The net on the waitress’ coxcombed hair

and her orthopedic lifts

made me feel like Hansel there:

I did not know there were shifts.

Inhabiting downtown, giants

so enormous that their mirth

was invisible, to quote Science,

as our revolving earth.

***

Bio: Born in Houston, Texas, David Francis has lived in London, Buenos Aires, and New York.  He has produced six music albums, one of poetry, Always/Far, a chapbook of lyrics and drawings, and Poems from Argentina (Kelsay Books).  In addition, he has written and directed the autobiographical films Village Folksinger (2013) and Memory Journey (2018).  His verse and short stories have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. www.davidfrancismusic.com

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Setu, June 2022