Ale by Wayne F. Burke

Pale green ocean the

color of bottled Ballentine Ale--

a six pack on the

window sill

and seagulls on the

gravel roof below; dirty city birds

like wise-guys, beady-eyed, and

with hooked beaks

like war-clubs of the Iroquois--

after drinking 5 of the bottles

and trying, unsuccessfully

to piss on the birds, and

having solved, in my mind

half the world's problems,

I drink the last, then

decide, the other half

not worth thinking about, and

go out

into the city, with

trouble

following so close

behind, it

steps on my heels

whenever I halt.

Wayne F. Burke's poetry has been widely published in print and online (including in RYE WHISKEY REVIEW). He is author of 8 published poetry collections, one short story collection, and a non-fiction work titled HENRY MILLER, Spirit & Flesh (published by Cyberwit.net., 9/2022). He lives in Vermont.