Condemned

At a ranch in the dark hills outside of Las Vegas

girls lined-up in their tattoos and laces –

one whispered between giggles, I always get the short ones.

Later at the $4.99 buffet of the Seven Deadlies

we drank gasoline and smoked fat cigars

all for one and one for all musketeers

we called that years-ago night our Original.

Tonight Kentucky wives kick off their shoes

              and wiggle their painted toes.

I sing Dr. John’s prescription

              for love and happiness

and me tokin’ from a glass pipe

              drinkin’ warm bourbon –

It’s a good thing we didn’t have one more

              she says, leave the lights on

I’ve never seen you before.

Enjoy my magic carpet ride little one, you

with your thumb up.

Albert DeGenova grew up in Chicago and now lives with his family in Oak Park, IL.  He is a blues saxophonist and marketing communications professional, as well as a poet.  From 1978-1980, he was an editor of the Oyez Review (published by Roosevelt University); in June of 2000, he launched the literary/arts journal After Hours, for which he is publisher and editor.  DeGenova’s poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals, including the Café Review, Osiris, Paterson Literary Journal, Oyez Review, and Journal of Poetry Therapy.  His first book, Back Beat (a collection of poetry combined with memoir) was first published by Cross+Roads Press in 2001; a second edition was recently released by Fractal Edge Press in 2006.  Of Back Beat, Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote, “Back Beat beats everything for being beater than the Beats.”  DeGenova received his MFA in Writing from Spalding University, Louisville.