pops
by Emma K. Shibley
will you stop one day and
not fly south lake ward if i
ask you too will you wring
my shame from my arms if
i am ever wed in a dance the
fam will cry at and i will fog
frost from mourn to bite if a
tear is shed. i want us to be
good friends though you’ll
throw me a street car named
irascibility and call it home
roam thru gloam keys hello
the house! we are here with
bags in tow but don’t turn
on the lights yet first take
a smoke break post a big
grin like fence goblin in a
mask miss your niece call
your kin leave no mail take
back the deed but don’t tell
her say each day this a place
too damn big to take care of
til mom cave and leaves cave
full of years for nice small it’s
so close to the high way meant
one years from now i will not
come home for break i won’t
need to i will have a studio a
tiny bay of wind for my own
self. though i will miss you i
will not want to know what
i will miss there with your
loud voice i can not undo
but please come still too
shows hear me sing i’ll
be sad blonde thing if
you don’t you are my
soft bald pops after
all
This poem previously appeared in Inklings Arts & Letters.