Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry

They were coolest people on the continent
artists in residence, United States Antarctic Program.
Every year, one or two
for the summer
or part of
transported to all points historic and contemporary
capturing struggle in a fragile Eden
or similarly syntaxed theme.
Invites to every party
introductions to all the bp’s
having a ball . . . . creating about hardship.

An artist could be
whatever art can be
painter
photographer
writer
put together a petition. And petition.
Art
the soul to the mind of science
and body of logistics.

He had been before
and written a book.
There was no free lunch
even here where meals are supplied without cost
artists had to pay the ferryman
with publication
exhibition
coffee table gloss.

He smiled too easily
and made his fame aware
to any who were unaware.
Fran was a shuttle bus driver
one of several, almost always, women
maintaining the umbilical between town and airfield
driving the crushed snow road every hour. 24/7.
The writer took to accompanying her
for the entire nine hour shift
squatting on the engine block when all seats taken
two thirds his age
butterscotch blonde
eye holding figure – undisguised by polar clothing.
We wondered. And then we didn’t.

His book was in the library
curiosity checked it out
the frontispiece
a dedication to
research assistant, editor, friend and wife – Anna.

For the back story click Backstage

Writers are by nature careful
stories trellised seedlings and cuttings
of imagination and fact.
Facts. Even when factual
can be problematic
sometimes more libellous than lies.

Just as backstreet hardscrabble can vanish with wealth
a 25 years after take me girl about town
may costume into always been respectable.
Besides
no 58-year-old woman wants her children
or grandchildren
knowing of past wild .
Before the Internet and the iPhone
Facebook, Instagram
or YouTube
no one will remember or have tangible record.
Still just in case a pseudonym – MM.

MM, impressively promiscuous – in a promiscuous town
not stunning
but more than passable to the eye
farm girl fair rather than pretty
tallish for a woman
sturdy without being fat
a tidy Ford sedan
not a European convertible.
Supply and demand
and here rides in very short supply.

MM’s birthday
her 33rd
on ice, literally
a wish
two young men not previously sampled.
A celebration to remember by all accounts.

For the back story click Backstage

Billy Joel penned two songs archiving his ascent
‘ Piano Man ’
a loving obituary to those passed on the way up
and
‘ The Entertainer ’
kiss and tell
of cheap success
shark agents
one night shows and one night stands
of lessons learned
by making the same mistake twice.

Some people never have a first name
he was just Kearney
the night baker
he seemed to belong to night
even here, where there was none.

I told him we’d been through this
already been through it before
that
there wouldn’t be a third time.
He was quiet
sullen
attentive
no opposition
just like the first time.

I said I hoped he understood
face empty of expression
his eyes slowly blinking
a screen waiting for the download.
Impressed?
Contrite?
Match met?

Mission accomplished walks away
air rushes past
a bird escaping from a cage.
The knife thudded into scrim
wrist width accuracy.

For the back story click Backstage