H e a r t S o n s & H e a r t D a u g h t e r s of A l l e n G i n s b e r g

N a p a l m H e a l t h S p a : R e p o r t 2 0 1 4 : A r c h i v e s E d i t i o n

WANDA COLEMAN

Neeli Straight Up

––after N. Cherkovski

he sings the praises of the usual cheap cigar and beer

downs literary discussion with cynical aplomb

followed by an increasing stream of genuine wanting

knows the differences between

established lines and those painfully condensed

through with sidewalks and battered ears

through with coming to the fore. simply saying

what he wants to say

which comes first? the low-life or the nose-blown bandana?

known to friends as Cherri—sweet, ripe and

goes easy into pastries like aching feet into felt-lined loafers

hank this hank that hank the other thing hank

but never mind. he blends into the necessary surroundings

be it cultural hub or blistering cement at noon

filling every available space with longing

for those angel days of haloes and wings

when suspense governed every effing moment

like a man taking blows in an alley

like a woman drunk on love and wobbling on 3-inch heels

[Originally published in NHS 2011, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs11/.]