Ponderable polemics, poetic

WordPress site of poet Mark Lucker

reflections

  • No French Cuffs

    Plaid flannel shirts of my Northwoods youth smelled of beer and pine cones boat motor gasoline and fresh caught sunfish wood smoke and filtered Winstons when I was a kid the intertwined, pungent aromas of cervelat salami plumbers’ grease, house paint mingled freely, locked in square-patterned fibers, always-rolled-up sleeves no amount of Fels-Naptha soap could… Read more

  • Broadsides

    I once asked God for a sign needing more than spiritual Burma-Shave cardboard placards stapled to raw, rough pine sticks Ah, but I am not advertising my tag-board always blankly devoid of political hate hackneyed slogans five-ninety-nine pizza specials! buy your gold for more! I am not here to direct others to event parking or partake… Read more

  • First dance

    A ma-and-pa resort, small lake north woods of Minnesota small office behind quaint bar, twelve small cabins dozen aluminum rowboats to use; minnows, worms, leeches for sale amenities, ala Angler’s Edge Joe & Gloria’s place The bar a hangout for township locals grandpa Ivar and I frequented the nicked, cigarette-burn speckled polished, yellow-varnished bar for… Read more

  • Dutiful

    Following my calling and the call dropped I call back nobody picks up nobody calls back I have left the messages trying to reconnect number no longer in service ‘your recipient hasn’t set up voice mail for this account’ Am I being ignored via caller I.D. spurned due to embarrassed discomfort Following my calling and… Read more

  • Tips

    Life is not karaoke performing words, ways of others interest me not at all imitation less sincere flattery more pandering laziness someone else’s persona under guise of your ‘interpretation’ nothing there is real. I sit on a rickety stool deliver my own material strum my own chords sing my own song battered tip jar constantly… Read more

  • ‘Bang. Bangbangbang.’

    Middle age and being a grandfather for the first time finds me going back and looking forward reflecting on past errors, omissions, miscalculations and major ‘oopsies’ in hand-mirror over-the-shoulder Annie Oakley sharpshooter-style without the gift of an eagle eye or benefit of practicing good aim I happily fire away Read more