The Ancient Modern
Porch Poem / Joshua Alan Sturgill
malbec and a marlboro — for a hazy 4 p.m.
liquid garnet dans un verre
smoke’s a ring without a gem
and wind’s a woman’s fingertips pressing into sand
weaves it like religion
waves her lazy hand
city with no cancers, city downside down
that’s my faithful city — lilies
woven through her crown
Cézanne’s sky’s delicious (lead white / prussian blue)
half-submerged in shadows
san doute, I’ll have one or two
to compliment a cigarette, to pair with something grand
awash in hazy shadow, slowly
crumbling into sand
any world’s un tableau under Summer clouds
whispering impressions — as
the bottle goes around
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