Poetry: The Unnatural Scale

the unnatural scale


but where

did we float on this sea of sound?

jetsammy davis jr. might hold

the truth of evolution, but he

can’t even be seen anymore. ironic

for a man who couldn’t really see well

in the first place. we one-eye-balled

into devolution. lost track of the devil.

then daniel johnson. what i mean to say is

i agree, sir. heard word there’s a circle

where we follow back down laddered language

‘til cavemen mock our grunts and simplicity. i agree

jimi put clapton in his place, but you know townshend

won’t back down ‘til underground and why not

mention paler fingers plucking? holcomb’s banjo led

long fingers to short and all they see are

breasts and plastic surgery but

Shhhhh!

bet with eyes closed dolly could quote roscoe.

one up him, even. (dylan wouldn’t cite her, though.

hop the train to another town to tell them

you carried bound bandana on a stick

when first class was the way.

the difference doesn’t figure out

(and here’s to every song you twirled to

to make the record skip ‘n’ scratch.)

shake again like little.

two sugars,

no milk,

made irish,

but you know

then

the color

don’t change.


~ By Adah Gorton ~