Smoke and Mirrors

Smoke and Mirrors

Thick smoke
everywhere tonight
around town.

Like walking
through a smoke screen.

I was on
the far north side.

The air was heavy
and smoky.

Then on the South side
it was worse.

I'm down
about midway now.
Downtown on Broadway
and it is much better.

A breeze
off the river
may be
blowing it back from
me now.

There's a citywide ban
on burning out doors.

So I suspect
this smoke
is blowing over
from Fort Benning again.

-Will Dockery (May 2020)

In the Days of '99

In the Days of '99

At first there were my words
I stood onstage to deliver them
the buzz grew
and I grew with it
walking it
talking it
creating and comparing mythology.

Over the years
most often than not
poetry performance
evolved into a group effort
but this was not immediate
or overnight.

I'd take the stage
for my set
several of the newest poems
and some older favorites
cold call with my back pages
and microphone.

By 1998 the process was
poetry backed by music
having discussed
with interested musicians
to remain onstage
contributing
improvisational riffs.

A decade later
collective contributions grew
it was when contribution
grew into collaboration.

-Will Dockery (2020)

"All's Well at the Well at World's End"

"All's Well at the Well at World's End"

I've seen many warnings
that the end is near.
Sometimes they seem to come
once or twice a year.

"The End is near!"

From street preachers yelling
to new age hippies chanting.
The end is always certain doom
and coming quickly.

"Take this, brother, may it serve you well."

The visions of zombies
I watched with Katherine and Tammy
in Summer 1978.
In the movie theater
out at Fort Benning.

"From the land of fire and ice..."

Comic book Ragnarok
set off when Balder was slain
by a mistletoe arrow.
As Christ was speared
with the dogwood lance.

"Just one drop of water in the lake of fire."

I've always known
as my Grandmother told me
He, and the end,
will come like
a thief in the night.
She said no water this time
but fire and brimstone.

"Riding a pale horse..."

And when a man
figures out the date
of the end
God will simply
change his plans.
So, for now...

"God put the Rainbow in the sky."

-Will Dockery (2020)

She Sleeps Tight

She Sleeps Tight

Sleeps so tight
she has a marksman's eye.
Maker's mark
tattoo firewater spine.
Leather shoes
but nowhere to go.

Dice and coins
scattered in the snow.
Dice and coins
scattered in the snow.

Won't be long,
until I see her face.
She's waiting
in an undisclosed place.
I've been conspired
banned from my muse.

This won't stick
poor boy's all confused.
This won't stick
poor boy's all confused.

In Salem town
she keeps her chin so high.
Darkened breeze
she smiles as I roll by.
Step inside
she looks for tables left.

Wink at time
nothing lasts except yourself.
Wink at time
nothing lasts except yourself.

Like a Steamboat
she plans to roll on down.
To the Gulf
out of this dirty town.
Copper mesh
kept stuffed in a jar.

Sharp cold hit
turning wine to water.
Sharp cold hit
turning wine to water.

We know him
eye deed by his ship.
In a trap
a kind of goosechase trip.
Whiskey fumes
and stale gunsmoke.

Sunk and drowned
with all her knives and jokes.
Sunk and drowned
with all her knives and jokes.

Sleeps so tight
she has a marksman's eye.
Maker's mark
tattoo firewater spine.
Leather shoes
but nowhere to go.

-Will Dockery (September 2009)

The Science Ladies

The Science Ladies

Weariness, soon to be picked up anew
there was the Spaniard
and he told a tale of blood anew.

"No more fictitious words
no more underhanded tactics done up..."

The words were spoken seriously to him
but the words are spoken as if forced
and Mary turned out to be a man.

She said that she was really burned out
so seductive and strange.
He said "Where is the man with the preludes?"
The Science Ladies
inhabiting the length of soul.

The grey things
inhabiting the
where the lumber was kept.
Particles that were stinging my lungs.
The godly seal, the grey seal, will dissolve.
400 years, 800 years of slavery.

She showed me where I had to go
told me what I had to know.
And as she told me
the land was being pelted with snow.

Answers like seeds being dispersed into the breeze.
The Science Ladies
wandering inside my soul.

She stood there
with a handful of gleaming seeds.
She opened her eyes to me.
We stood on the marsh of reeds
the understanding of the ages
would grow in my mind from this point in my childhood.
The Science Ladies
inhabiting the length of soul.

-Will Dockery (1982)