Two Poems by John Dorsey

Box­car Poem #6

on hal­loween
some­one in the trail­er park
put razor blades
in a few can­dy apples

after that we stayed in

to this day
i still won’t shave

look­ing like
griz­zly adams
just seems
more wholesome

Box­car Poem #7

we watched as a woman
stabbed her husband
five times
in the throat

when they loaded him
onto the stretcher
he was still
smok­ing a cigarette
and telling her
to play his numbers

that he felt lucky

to be alive

pho­to by Casey Rearick

John Dorsey is the author of sev­er­al col­lec­tions of poet­ry, includ­ing Teach­ing the Dead to Sing: The Outlaw's Prayer (Rose of Sharon Press, 2006), Sodomy is a City in New Jer­sey (Amer­i­can Met­tle Books, 2010), Leaves of Ass (Unadorned Press, 2011). and Tomb­stone Fac­to­ry (Epic Rites Press, 2013). These pieces are from his forth­com­ing book with Lead Graf­fi­ti Let­ter­press, BOXCAR POEMS.  His work has been nom­i­nat­ed for the Push­cart Prize. He may be reached at archerevans@​yahoo.​com.