John W. McEwers Poems

I gave a speech once
in a class on 17th
century literature
where I said to a bunch
...

Was a time, O'
a time of my life
when I went nowhere
slow
...

Because it would be too much for freedom to be for us.
It wouldn't be right if freedom were given to us.
It must be earned,
must be fought for,
...

I remember the smell of an empty casket
Where your body should've been
should have looked like a sullen angel
with its wings sadly pinned
...

I remember her name was Sandra,
Where her lips lifted, parted to
Show two cute teeth when she smiled.
...

Oh, Kate, I love you, Kate!
Your hair is so pretty, are those highlights, Kate?
They are! They're so pretty!
Just like you, but you know that, don't you?
...

You can take your talk of taxes and infrastructure and shove them where the sun don't shine.
Build a new bridge from Workingtown to Businesston if it makes your people sleep at night but it won't do nothing for me.
Oh great, you support the working man.
...

I lost thirty bucks on a poker game with those
I thought were friends.
But friends wouldn't take you for all you have, would they?
I don't even smoke but they wouldn't even give me a cigarette before
I took my leave.
...

The table is dressed in a Sunday skirt and balloons.
Helium floating plastic floating dreams of Birthday wishes.
Staring vaguely it almost appears as if the table might float away.
...

When I reach for the light switch
it goes out
When I pull on the door it shuts
When I turn the key it locks
...