Impending Baldness

Grateful acknowledgment is made Maxine Chernoff, Paul Hoover, and their OINK! (Chicago) which first published this poem.

from the collection WHERE IS THE FALSE PIANO?

Impending Baldness

After a pit-stop on his credenza, the mouton lamb

Stole fluctuates in hand to hand punctilio

Then is eaten. Shy away and an alternate

Hydrocephaloid proves fashionable—with oars.

Despite the fat scarves, no

Despite patrolling this psychomotor quarantine, laughter’s
Follicles breed their natal omen, precious "Adieu!"
For carte blanch the r.s.v.p. collapse
Whether torrid or insipid, will nullify glib flattery.

Honk-honk! Remember anxiously arrived and waiting
While she younger primped and puffed, preparing to go out?
Oh to bound or prance about (like so) in sprightly manner
To caper, to make merry, to sport, to frolic—slap face!

Worry each too drink sec, no brut
Passion famished
Shan’t say he hath himself fordone…

Gulp.

R Bartkowech