How to get Ben Affleck naked in 45 seconds (a poem)

2023/02/03

No Ben Afflecks were harmed in the dream that led to this poem…

The illusory poet sits on a curb
somewhere near the school
with a clipboard and pen in hand

Mrs. Ellis, deep of voice, dignified
is talking to her kids
before the day starts

Ben Affleck in suit and tie
drops his kids off for the day

He’s a friendly sort
but suggests the poet doesn’t have a life
without children

And with every sentence
he loses another piece of clothing

He doesn’t take it off—
it just disappears
until he cops a squat
still wearing his jacket, shirt, and tie

As the assembly starts
the poet begins writing a poem
called How to get Ben Affleck naked in 45 seconds

Describing the illusory poet sitting on a curb
somewhere near the school
with a clipboard and pen in hand

and Mrs. Ellis, deep of voice, dignified
talking to her kids
before the day starts

Until suddenly the words
come out all wrong
menos tertiary mnmna

A trimline phone is within reach—
to call 911 or not?

Beyond the row of teachers
sitting in their plastic chairs
is sunlight

A clear path?

New words at the top of the page
match the poet’s intentions—
the crisis has passed

But
the poem called How to get Ben Affleck naked in 45 seconds
is lost

(3 February 2023)

Wishes sometimes have consequences is available to order from your favorite local bookstore.

IndieBound search: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=wishes+sometimes+have+consequences

If they can’t get it for you, you can always find it on Amazon:
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Paperback: https://smile.amazon.com/Wishes-Sometimes-Consequences-Kevin-OConner/dp/0998878162/

Information about my other books can be found here.

I had another dream in which I inadvertently had a drink (a poem)

2023/01/29

I’m shocked and appalled—a new poem…

Was that before or after I pushed the line of late 70s Oldsmobiles over the crest of the hill?
The couple in their muted earth-tone power suits barely got out of the way in time.
The entire trail, from windy incline to steep, straight drop, was already at a standstill.
Three o’clock comes early, and I seem to wake up for it every night.
But I’ll be damned if I’m ever fully awake before nine.
I am a creature of habit, however weird the habit may be.
That doesn’t explain, however, why it’s so windy out today.
Either way, this new case has plenty of openings.

(28 January 2023; posted 29 January 2023)

Wishes sometimes have consequences is available to order from your favorite local bookstore.

IndieBound search: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=wishes+sometimes+have+consequences

Information about my other books can be found here.

Dancing around the question (a poem)

2022/12/22

One of a few poems I wrote while watching Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Playing the Piano 2022 streaming concert.

Maybe this is fear
not the terror we picture
and make into art
but the everyday moments of pause
two feet planted firmly together
shoelaces untied should we dare look down
the same routines in the same sequence
without variation
without another thought
the familiar
the comfortable
the picture in its frame
hanging on the wall
the only part of memory
that hasn’t been shuffled off

The map on my screen
tells me location
but gives no direction
I can follow the roads
but don’t know where I am
not really
A designated space
seems to fit me better
even as I cram more stuff in
than it can hold
I must make room in my room
so maybe I can try to picture
what should go there
and what should just go—
but I hate to let go of things
that have resale value
I can be sentimental
but that’s all in my head

And what of my confession
that has confessed nothing?
It can’t be accepted
I can’t be absolved
I can’t even stand
in my own defense
Is it so bad?
There’s no indecision to be made—
that I know I can do
I also know I can’t keep my screen
from getting smudged
or follow the stones
that have been removed
from the path

How long is a year without dreaming?
(I’m asking for a friend)

(10 December 2022; posted 22 December 2022)

Wishes sometimes have consequences is available to order from your favorite local bookstore.

IndieBound search: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=wishes+sometimes+have+consequences

Information about my other books can be found here.