Everyone’s an Expert on Something By Jennifer Poteet

I know a little – I can discern

Ionic columns from Doric

as well as identify Corinthian, which

makes me think

of Ricardo Montalban stroking the

leather car seat

in that Chrysler Cordoba commercial.

My friend the nurse, who works at a Catholic hospice,               

points out the difference between

calvary and cavalry.

Wallace Stevens was an insurance

whiz,

but he was also a connoisseur of ice

cream.

Hayden Carruth really showed you

Chicago,

and recommended scrambled eggs and whiskey

whereas Rufus Wainwright paired

cigarettes

with chocolate milk. Even Sam Cooke admitted

he didn’t remember much about the

French he took

but he could tell you one and one is two.   

Jennifer Poteet lives in Montclair, NJ and is a fundraiser for public radio. Her work has recently appeared in The Night Heron Barks, Paterson Literary Review, Swwim and elsewhere. Her chapbook Sleepwalking Home was published by Dancing Girl Press. Jennifer's website is jenniferpoteet.com.