2 Poems

By Michael Igoe

Flotation

It takes more to ease the pain
on the dark clouded morning
that yields to a quiet evening.

It is the ever ready presence,
a truth is simply considered;
doing more harm than good.
Our captive neighbors
have clothespin wives
blessed with the faces
of the rhesus monkey.
Khaki shirts and trousers
on a line in the backyard.
They see each other,
as easily unmasked.
They’re wily opponents
willing to settle for less.

Jitters

At yellow formica counters
the times you were near me
I sat with with black coffee
I watched you drink hot tea.
Here’s why 24 hour restaurants
try to proclaim their innocence.
At the jinxed booth with you behind,
mornings take place in forever hours.

The waitress in cahoots
with the shift managers
triggered a silent alarm.

Michael Igoe, city boy, neurodiverse, Chicago now Boston. Numerous works appear in journals and anthologies (available at amazon.com, lulu.com, barnesandnoble.com). National Library of Poetry Editor’s Choice Award 1997. Best of the Net nomination 2023. poetry-in-motion.org Twitter: MichaelIgoe5, Instagram: igoe590