Ed Fournier

Ed Fournier (fourniered@nemaine.com) writes: i have lived in Maine

for the past twenty years, an

isolated spot. i came from a busier place. Just as winter got a

little pissed off about becoming a memory last year and screamed

wind gusts and spit snow chunks at us, i went on a three day subway

ride....next week i'm going to do it again. i write about the city

and living in the woods....

ride

it’s falling again, big city flakes, snow

melts, puddles freeze, wind

crowds move in, sip coffee

go to shows, take the trains, be where its warm

big coats, hats, scarves and eyes

Billy and me, adventurers of afternoons, ride the lines

looking for art, i try to enter them through their eyes

he elbows me "don’t"

boom box music blasts base boom blast

the squeak of the car off key, sings

boom base blast squeak car base blast boom

i stand next to a live snake, rolls with corners

woman smacks kid wipes nose

next to a cop some guy sick moans

asks for cigarette, change, offers drink

i reach, Billy says, "don’t", hands him a buck

lady has yard sale in torn Walmart bags, spilling,

man in suit sits, old lady dirty looks him

clank boom base squeak boom karaoke off key car sings

girl joins in, "WHAT", car slides left, loose, slide

no one knows "what" or looking

except me and Billy’s elbow in my gut again

car slows starts slide clank boom stops "OH SHIT", someone groans,

as lights go out and Billy says "don’t".

ed fournier