Y2K: A Love Story

for Christina 

looking for a small red haired girl
in times square
i remember thinking
there are worse ways
for the world to end.

Gasconade River Song

the only thing
that keeps me here
is the thought
that a mile
on uneven gravel
is too far to go
for a final baptism.

Dog Shit and Moonlight

we have run out of rabbits
i pull jesus out of my hat
wild dogs scatter by the river.

The Dean of the Deli

for Dan Provost

so much more than your working class roots
a beautiful mind in any alley
you can calculate
what words have cost you
by subtracting the scars
from your heart.

John Dorsey is the author of several collections of poetry, including “Sodomy is a City in New Jersey” (American Mettle Books, 2010), “Tombstone Factory” (Epic Rites Press, 2013) and most recently, “Appalachian Frankenstein” (GTK Press, 2015). His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He may be reached at archerevans@yahoo.com