Poetry — January 23, 2014 10:29 — 0 Comments

Rainier Road Trip – John Davis

O Lacey. O Lakebay. O Lynwood with one n
Lynnwood with two n’s and too much
traffic. Hum me to Tumwater. We’ll bump
around the abandoned brewery like ghosts
thirsting for cans of Olympia beer. Southworth,
Seabeck, slide through Silverdale
and find the first and last feed store
before mall fever plowed up the pastures.
On to Eatonville and Elbe with still
the best burgers in Thurston County.
Take me to Tenino and relive the Sky
River Rock Festival: Country Joe, Crow,
and the guitar licks of Buddy Guy.
Point me to Poulsbo and Port Gamble.
Swim beside orcas in Port Madison.
Hole up in Hansville: gambling, hitting
the jackpot. Hear the saws of Shelton
slicing into fir that frames the next
spec. house in Centralia. Speed slowly
through Satsop. Don’t disturb the derelict
power plants. Don’t tell me there’s nothing
to do in Puget Sound. I just landed a salmon.
I’m cleaning and cooking it for lunch.

Bio:

John is the author of Gigs (Sol Books) and The Reservist (Pudding House Press.) His work has appeared recently in Cider Press Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, The North American Review and Rio Grande Review.

Leave a Reply

What am I?

Bioluminescent eye
That sees by the shine
Of its own light. Lies

Blind me. I am the seventh human sense
And my stepchild,
Consequence;

Scientists can't find me.

Januswise I make us men;
Glamour
Was my image then—

Remind me:

The awful fall up off all fours
From the forest
To the hours…

Tick, Tock: Divine me.

-- Richard Kenney