Three Poems
Bryan with a fucking Y
some nights I don't sleep
the boys
bryan with a fucking y
Jaime and I met a guy on Craig’s List
(not what you’re thinking)
his name was Bryan
with a Y
I emphasize the letter
because my Uncle Brian
with an I
told me never trust the Y spellers
they fucked grandmothers
he said
so we met the guy
to test drive
his 85 Volvo
Smurf blue
a few dents
on the door
and on the rear
a crack
in the driver’s side mirror
but only 95k on it
it rode well
flew on the freeway
didn’t look like anyone
poached elephants
in the back seat
so we bought it
yeah, it doesn’t sound like
we have a reason to be pissed
but Bryan with a fucking Y
had the Smurfmobile
inspected at Midas
where they missed
half the shit wrong with it
Bryan with a fucking Y
didn’t say
it needed a G in work
before it’d drive
and everything he said
about buying the thing
from an old couple
who drove less than I did
was bullshit
a month before
he bought it
from a dealer
on Aurora
where I’m sure
at least
one hooker
got done
on the bumper
Jaime found that out
when she wasted a day
at the DMV
changing the title over
but couldn’t
they told her
the car wasn’t in
Bryan with a fucking Y’s name
and could be stolen
that’s why
if I ever see
Bryan with a fucking Y
again
I’m going to punch him
in the eye
take his driver’s license
and draw an I
over the Y
then maybe
he’ll live right
some nights i don't sleep
rolling around bed
like a tornado
whirling pillows
and blankets
laundry
shoes
change
on the floor
but not that light
shining
from the porch
it doesn’t help
having a cat
balled on the back
of my head
a dog
spread
at my feet
and Jaime
kicking me
for stealing
the mattress
the animals
haven’t got
but it’s not always them
sometimes
it’s nothing
a dripping faucet
an itchy ass
the dogs yipping
next door
the thought
of getting up
in just a few more
or it’s everything
reworking lines
of old poems
rewording sentences
of old conversations
rethinking why
I don’t move home
I try to think good things then
about Jaime
she looks happy
wrapped
like a fork
and knife
in a napkin
the cat and dog too
it’s the only time
they get along
then a horn honks
a gun’s shot
the cops stop someone
on MLK
I get up
piss
pass the kitchen clock
2:16
that’s it
I’ll be up
til the crickets stop
by 4:19 I’m out
like the dog
the cat
the woman
but not like that light
it’s going
all night
the boys
mother calls
only says hello
when I hear the phone
go against her chest
she takes a deep breath
YOU BETTER LEAVE HIM ALONE
OR I’M GOING TO LOCK YOU IN THE OTHER ROOM
I hear something thrown
then she picks up
says Lefty’s messing with Tux
on the couch
eating dinner
in the litter box
this little devil’s going at his butt
I don’t know what to say
so mother goes on
Lefty wants to play
all day and night
kills mice
fights every cat in sight
he’s already been bit twice
you’d think he’d stop
so I say
maybe not
the cat’s still young
crazy
having fun
but mother disagrees
says you’ll see
when your baby
leaves a mouse head
in your bed
it won’t be cute then
BRIAN McGUIGAN works at Richard Hugo House, is co-editor of when it rains from the ground up, and producer of “A Night of Cheap Wine and Poetry” series. Spankstra Press published his collection of poetry, More Than I Left Behind, in 2006. For more McGuigan: www.write2die.com.