GAS Featured Poet: Kenneth Pobo

 

 Kenneth Pobo grew up in Villa Park, Illinois, but now lives in Pennsylvania.  He is the author of twenty-one chapbooks and nine full-length collections.  Recent books include Bend of Quiet (Blue Light Press), Loplop in a Red City (Circling Rivers), Uneven Steven (Assure Press), Sore Points (Finishing Line Press) Lilac and Sawdust (Meadowlark Press) and Lavender Fire, Lavender Rose (BrickHouse Books). Opening is forthcoming from Rectos Y Versos Editions. Human rights issues, especially as they relate to the LGBTQIA+ community, are also a constant presence in his work. 

BOBOLINKO BURNING WOOD

Many things paralyze Bobolinko.  His friend

Mina asked him point blank “Do you prefer

spring or fall?”  He shifted from foot to foot,

eyes glazing over.  The radio plays “Sure Thing”

by Dionne Warwick.  He had been sure

of one thing, Phil, who resembled

the Lincoln Monument.  He expected him

to always be there.  Phil left him after slightly

less than five years.  He said,

“This just isn’t working out.  You’re

a nice guy, but I need something more.” 

Either he had no idea that the letdown

was coming or he chose not to see it. 

He didn’t think that the Lincoln Monument

would shake off Georgian marble

and walk away.

 

Hobbies help.  Sometimes Bobolinko goes

to his basement and does woodburning. 

He purposely burns too deeply,

making any word illegible.  The smell

attracts him, sweet and acrid,

the burnt wood, the deep gash smoking.  

WILDFLOWERS IN THE WOODS

 

Pink at the lip

of earth, 

 

gaywings,

shorter than my ankle,

change a forest

each spring.  A wildflower

has a quiet power,  

 

opens

briefly--

 

long enough

for lasting joy.