Monday, February 8, 2016

Two Poems by Michael Lee Johnson


Tequila

Single life is-tequila with lime,
shots of travelers, jacks, diamonds, and then spades,
holding back aces-
mocking jokers
paraplegic aged tumblers of the night trip.
Poltergeist define as another frame,
a dancer in the corner shadows.
Single lady don't eat the worm. . .
beneath the belt, bashful, very loud, yet unspoken.
Your man lacks verb, a traitor to your skin.



Jesus in a Nighttime City

Jesus walks
Southwest side
Chicago nighttime city
in bulletproof vest
barefoot
broken
beer
bottles
glass,
stores closed,
blasted windows,
mink fur stolen,
a few diamonds for glitter-
old parks, metal detectors, quarters, nickels, dimes,
coins in the pocket of thieves, black children
on Merry go rounds, Maywood, IL,
danger children run in danger
in spirit, testimony,
red velvet outdates Jesus' robe.






Michael Lee Johnson lived ten years in Canada during the Vietnam era.  he is a Canadian and US citizen.  Today he is a poet, a freelance writer, amateur photographer, small business owner in Itasca, Illinois.  He has been published in more than 880 small press magazines in 27 countries, and he edits 10 poetry sites.  Author's website:  http://poetryman.mysite.com/  Michael is the author of The Lost American:  From Exile to Freedom (136 page book) ISBN:  978-0-595-46091-5, several chapbooks of poetry, including From Which Place the Morning Rises and Challenge of Night and Day, and Chicago Poems.  He also has over 83 poetry videos on YouTube as of 2015:  https://www.youtube.com/user/poetrymanusa/videos  Michael Lee Johnson has been nominated for 2 Pushcart Prize awards for poetry in 2015.

1 comment:

  1. As stimulating as the sound is to our ears, of your voice when reciting one of your intriguing poems, the power of your riveting words taken in by our eyes is equally rewarding as we reflect upon the sharply drawn details of your magical genius. Both of these are stellar representatives of a collection of many; so much so that the reader needs to pace self before embarking on another mystery ship of tales spun most wickedly by you.

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