"Climbing the Willow" and "The Loneliest Haiku in the State of Montana"
Climbing the Willow
now comes the actual
cruel
and blissful hour
of spring;
I can see
the steam, ripping off
the rooftops, grass blades,
green Gumby getting down
to that old
Young Rascals number,
hood ornament,
steady vibration, the Gryphon,
the Falcon,
everything stung
by an insurmountable
sun.
Scents perambulate
as Min Wax
and wood, all quiet
and the birds can hold on
to tiny breaths.
I don’t understand why
it’s breaking
my heart,
but sure enough, there
are the requisite
pilings,
sling shots
and boomerangs,
desperate
cries,
at an alien pitch
the actual cliff
scree of sex. I feel it,
as so much loose
candy crush,
pieces
of perfectly smooth
human chrome, cooing
and cooling
on the New York
thru way
a month, a minute
after the wreck.
I’ve got to get back
to the story I have
imagined
lovingly, look man
I don’t want
to die.
The Loneliest Haiku in the State of Montana
she was a sunset
he’ll replay, long past longing,
palms on the window
Dennis Mahagin is the author of two poetry collections: Grand Mal, from Rebel Satori Press (2012) and Longshot and Ghazal (Mojave River Press, 2014). Dennis is also the bassist and backup singer for a blues band (as well as a rock band) based in Deer Lodge, Montana.