Photography © Chad Parenteau

 

X Y Z Tryp

You look cool with that cigarette

dangling
on your lower lip, loose shingle
on the roof of the world, trailing
smoke trailing

hope.
*
It means less
than nothing in the broad view
yet my head is still full

of people I don’t know

what to tell you.
*
When the Elderly see
an old friend,
they grin, grip each other’s
shoulders, squeeze

hard, say

“Lord how long has it been?”
One or two cry (no pity please)

there is something in their eye.

 

Dennis Mahagin is a poet and writer from Washington state. He is the author of two poetry collections: Grand Mal from Rebel Satori Press; and Longshot and Ghazal from Mojave River Press. Dennis also serves as Poetry Editor for Frigg Magazine.

Chad Parenteau is Associate Editor of Oddball Magazine.