Issue
#1

January
2009

2 poems by John Rocco

The Street, the Beach

The circumstances of horny fate
remind me that the time will come
walking down St. Marks
amazed that it’s all still there
but different
but the same

as my eyes lock eyes
digital weapons system killer cockpit style
with pretty young woman just walking past
surprised to see me
never before
just out of the Holiday Cocktail Lounge
where holy Stefan
served me eighteen $4 Heinekens
a bargain
with the $4 shot of Jameson
sweet dessert for
the Beast inside sleeping
coma drinking fate denial
and Michael Crichton dead.

The fun id boy inside unconscious
of the falling seppuku leaves
8 months until rebirth
the summer Coney Island
Nathan’s hotdogs the fruit
of the fucked-up Gods
with her in the surf
Brooklyn bird girl
visions of the crack smoking cosmos
rocking the oceans of her tattoos.

© John Rocco

Family Guy 2

In the diner
my kids under the table
bacon fat hardening on my plate
I stare at the young waitress’ ass
feel sharp deep sudden guilt
look out the windows
of the Blue Bay Diner
at the ice cold vodka sky
and damn it
if it doesn’t look back.

© John Rocco

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