Gentleman Caller By Jeff Weddle

I was young, so I drank three beers 

to get my courage up. 

It was ridiculous, of course, 

but I had been a guest 

in her apartment before, 

sadly innocent, 

and it was near. 

I walked the quiet,

nighttime streets 

practicing what I would say.

So, I arrived. I knocked. I waited.

She came to the door all undone

and, of course, was not alone. 

The walk home took a long time. 

In fact, I don’t think I’ve made it there yet. 

Jeff Weddle is the Alabama Beat Poet Laureate (2024-2026). His latest book is Letter to Xhevdet Bajraj (Uncollected Press, 2025). His work has appeared in Albanian and Spanish translation