He Couldn’t Knock A Sick Whore Off A Pisspot. by Jason Baldinger

Jimmy says the pill they’re giving him

kills his voice, wears him out

he’s lost twenty pounds

wobbles on a limp

as we walk to our cars

Jimmy says you gotta believe

every word of what you write

you gotta get up there and read

with your bones hanging out

if you write a boxing poem

you gotta talk like a boxer

you can’t say his punch was weak

you say he couldn’t knock a sick

whore off a pisspot

Jimmy says he wants me to do a reading

he says he’s gotta a lotta readings

a lotta plans he wants to get in

it’s the third time I remember him

speaking about time, each time a little

less cocky, a little more worried

this time it sounds like a plea

Jason Baldinger is a poet hailing from Pittsburgh and recently finished a stint as writer in residence at the Osage Arts Community. He’s the author of several books, the most recent are This Useless Beauty (Alien Buddha Press), The Ugly Side of the Lake (Night Ballet Press) written with John Dorsey and the chaplet Fumbles Revelations (Grackle and Crow) which are available now. The collection Fragments of a Rainy Season (Six Gallery Press) and the split book with James Benger Little Fires Hiding (Spartan Press) are forthcoming. Recent publications include the Low Ghost Anthology Unconditional Surrender, The Dope Fiend Daily, Outlaw Poetry, Uppagus, Lilliput Review, Rusty Truck, Dirtbag Review, In Between Hangovers, Your One Phone Call, Winedrunk Sidewalk, Anti-Heroin Chic, Nerve Cowboy Concrete Meat Press, Zombie Logic Press, Ramingo’s Porch, Blue Mountain Review, Red Fez, Blue Hour Review and Heartland! Poetry of Love, Solidarity and Resistance. You can hear Jason read poems on recent and forthcoming releases by Theremonster and Sub Pop Recording artist The Gotobeds as well as at jasonbaldinger.bandcamp.com