Travis Bickle In Alhambra
by Dennis Mahagin
Forget Mister
Scorcese. Please.
It’s just … lately
I’ve been getting these
tiny little ideas, hooked
up ineluctably with my
cluster migraines:
Like super – glued Lilliputian cup holders
on sun visors, for the stashing of car keys?
Yes, yes, that one
was mine. A fine
little idea, stolen from me
by this young Amish
honcho
named Sven Klee, who got
famous for a line of wintergreen
spirit gum to soften up custom
built space heaters.
As seen
on QVC, and USA networks.
Sadly,
this shit happens
all the time, believe it
or not really blows
the mind, how
nobody
ever gets caught.
For 3 days days
running I’ve been
hanging
around cab stands
with a cardboard
sign clutched to my sunken
chest says, (yes, yes, yes you
guessed! ) — Are you talking
to me? Well there’s nobody
else here so you must be
please help… I’m 73
and homeless!
At the mission, it’s lights out
at nine. There’s a cross for every
body to bear … but thank God
that one ain’t mine. Got me a
teal green mini Cooper van
in storage. A real swell ride.
And still some vestigial
pride. Wheel well
for the cool side
of pillow.
An imminent gig
at Kinko’s Clean Copy,
but precious
few fans who remember
to stem tides …
Secret Service? Why,
they’ve been onto
my shit, forever and
a day ain’t having
none of it.
All of them, as jaded
as they are insatiable.
Slaughtering
those ancient gangsters
only proved I was
capable
but never great, never
ever great …
I’m just happy
I can still
relocate.
Gonna get a trim grey
Mohawk one of these
days it’s like bowing
down gracefully
to fate. Sunshine out of
orthopedic shoes, I keep
my demons on a short
leash baby now
howz about
you?
Dennis Mahagin is a poet from Washington state. His work has appeared in Exquisite Corpse, 3 A.M., 42opus, Stirring: A Literary Collection, Night Train, Juked, Keyhole, and The Nervous Breakdown, among other publications. A chapbook of his poems, entitled “Fare,” is forthcoming in 2011 from Redneck Press, in conjunction with the website, Fried Chicken & Coffee.