Saturday, August 10, 2013

Little Dark-eyed Junco




photo © 2013 Jennifer Wagner



Welcome to Rubbletown,
and thanks for leaving.
Don’t let the saloon doors
hit ya on the backside on yer way out.

Rope yerself a farmer’s daughter
elsewhere—
cuz the sheriff here does all the ropin’
of the choicest stock.

He gets a cut down at
The Delmonico,
making fodder for Madame Maynard’s
…err, establishment.

That sheriff, he’s a mean cuss.
See them boots?
Silver-tipped and intricate all up the sides?
He dips ‘em in rattlesnake venom.
And he’ll kick ya ‘til yer skin splits
and rots, black as raven’s feathers.

He’s the devil alright.
And the devil deals in hearts.
That’s why I’ve sleeved
a spade.

One day he’s gonna ask
the wrong "purty lil' thang"
to dance.


© 2013 Jennifer Wagner



At dVerse we’re writing cowboy poetry.  The Delmonico was a Hotel and Restaurant and suspicioned to have rooms leased to Madame Henrietta Maynard in Port Townsend, WA in the early 1900’s.  I’ve based my fictionalized poem on accounts found in the “Bars & Bordellos” booklet from the Jefferson County Historical Society (pictured). 


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Leaving Crypsis




© 2013 Jennifer Wagner



climb,
though it might be safer
to blend

climb,
though you might end up
decapitated on pride's wall

climb,
because the view
is always worth it


© 2013 Jennifer Wagner
 





© 2013 Jennifer Wagner





For Poets United:  Verse First ~ Difficulty.  Kim Nelson has challenged us to write a poem in 3 stanzas or less that is completely free of "gratuitous, show-offy, camouflaging" text.

I took these photos during a recent vacation in Chelan, WA.  There are 11 bighorn sheep in the top photo.  Can you spot them? 


Monday, August 5, 2013

Trending Chic


She smoked all her cigars
between noon and six,
listening to the bounce
of the sloping rain.

She drank lavender tea from a lowball glass,
let her hair go silver-white, and
never cared what a single soul
thought of it.

Her laugh was always belly deep,
her smile lines, deeper.

She had that knack
for letting everyone
be themselves
and they, by turn,
were able to.

Forget Vogue.
Forget Cosmo
and Elle.

An old wooden porch
frames the perfect face.


© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

I think I want to be her (well, except for the cigars). Linking up to join the fun at dVerse for OpenLinkNight!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

The dVerse Anthology









A couple of my poems are included in the newly released The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry out on Amazon.  This anthology contains works from over 90 talented poets, edited by Frank Watson (Follow the Blue Flute).  Click to check it out and order up some powerful pub poetry!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Meant to Be


© 2013 Jennifer Wagner


It only takes a moment
to see the light

as it’s crossing your path,
like quail to the apricot tree.

It only takes a moment—
and fifteen years later you know

it still is.
  


© 2013 Jennifer Wagner


Tomorrow my husband and I will be celebrating our 15th Anniversary.  I have been absent from the blogging world for a bit…vacationing where there is not much internet connection and will be absent a bit more for celebrating our Anniversary.  I hope summer is treating you all well!