Well that's the start of a whole new thread Tim . . .

I don't want to get my wrist slapped for digressing too much off topic, so I'll be brief. Ginsberg, Mags Atwood, Ray Carver, Larkin, Plath, Heaney, Basho, Rimbaud, Z Herbert, Collins and Kooser, Phil Levine, Lynn Doiron. I could go on and on. My first love was film, so lots of influence there too . . . .

B.

"And Brian, I hope you slept well and if you only knew the volumes of gay poetry I have.  We write what we know.  Or who we know."

Or what we want to know.

I like it, strong and fierce.

Picked.

I find it strange that no one mentioned that fantastic use of title - I'm sure they were all thinking about it - excellent - xo M

Lavonne, thanks for the pick.  It did my heart good after a rough night at work tonight.  And Michelle, thanks for the nod to the title...I spent most of an afternoon pouring through my vast collection of books about words hoping something would strike me.

And Mags...somehow I just couldn't get my head around the unseemly sound of 'thighs skippin'.  You know I love you though!

I want to know more of your list Brian...Rimbaud was an early influence for me and that led me to Leonard Cohen.

Tim

Also a Cohen fan, but not via Rimbaud. Young Arthur led me to Jim Morrison.

Hey, maybe this should be a discussion thread --- non-poetry influences . . .

B.

BTW, title didn't go unnoticed here either. Very nice.

Missing Tim.

Tiko

Ha!  Much enjoyed.  Tellin' it like it is, T.

lol

cheryl

These subjects carry enough bang that often they simply roll over what ever might be going on in the writing. There is a nice touch to this despite the in your face context. I agree with Maggie about the last line, it's a perfomance kind of strut, a deep bow.

It's worth glaring from the front page for a while.

larry

Congrats, Tim! Great fun to read this again. Tom

My opinion here is influenced by my recent reading, i.e. Shakespeare, who was known for that in-your-face performance deserving that deep bow at the end.

Bravo!

All about the fairy tale right now being neck deep into Liz Lochhead and this really is a terrific read. Great pacing like a hungary (horny) wolf.  We need Whitman. Enjoyed seeing you last night.

Sherry

Hey all,

I've been consumed again by retail hell and finally logged into PC and was surprised to see my poem sitting on the Front Page.  I am flattered again that someone deigned it so worthy. 

Humbly yours,
Tim

Really refreshing to see this on the front page, Tim, and congratulations to you, and to Larry for the pick.

milner

congratulations, Tim!

Stella

Strong voice, tempo. Love it. Thanks, Timothy