Shadowhead (Yellow), 2017
–after Richard Hambleton (1952-2017)
soul projection
mindscramble ejection
scorched
‘cross the slick
of a jaundice sky
creeping
seeping
screaming
weeping,
polyester emanations—
fingertip eja cu lati on s—
drip angst and
glamor
of dime bag
street philosophy.
dark come-hither
make-me-whither
sweet oblivion
blind-eye sta res
seeking
tweeking
eeking
needing
the candy-sweet-
sizzle
all-too-soon-fizzle
of
a wetburn
poppy kiss
artworld fumbles
sidewalk
stumbles
Hey, buddy,
how ‘bout
a masterpiece
for a ham-on-rye?
flailing
wailing
failing
railing
‘gainst the world
opportunists
and the acrid stink of
lifesick
from his
still
jaundiced sky.
Dirty Back Road
Moonlight
fingers
cutgrass, tying
rice seed into
silver braid
as Night
gobbles miles
from dirt road’s
muddy hand.
Waves of pale blue
kiss the doors of
an ol’ 55
with a swish
and a sway
to the rhythm of
crickets’ electric song and
a synchrony of bullfrogs
having a midnight
splash. Clouds
pass overhead
and fireflies—
like headlights—set
the stage for
a long
Naugahyde slide
as Night’s eye
sleeps.
It’s just us
here
now
behind cover
stories
and sweating glass—the
King and Queen of the Heap
discarded beer bottles
and well-worn
prophylactics
at our beck and call.
But
you’ll go your way
I’ll go mine
and no one
will ever know…
…except the moon
and those fireflies.
They know where all the bodies are buried.
— David Estringel is a Xicanx writer, Professor of English, and EIC at The Argyle Literary Magazine and Blood+Honey with words at The Opiate, Cowboy Jamboree, Dreich, Ethel, Literary Heist, Streetcake, The Milk House, and The Honest Ulsterman. David has published seven poetry/hybrid collections, six poetry chapbooks, and one co-authored novel Escaping Emily through Thirty West Publishing House. Connect with David on X @The_Booky_Man and his website www.davidestringel.com.