Three Poems

By Byron Howell

Freaking Eat Something!

 

Jordan -
two weeks
after he was
originally confronted
about the problem
was still
not eating.

 

I called and asked
him how
he was feeling.

 

It took him nearly
five minutes
to complete
one sentence.

 

I couldn't help
but wonder
how many pieces
he was going to
break into
once he
finished

 

tripping over it.

 

 

Playtime Palate

 

To assist
everyone
in trying to get
the message
across,
I asked Jordan
how he would
feel
about playing a game
of hangman.

 

He agreed.

 

Of course,
I went first.
The first word
he had to guess was

 

H - U - N - G - E - R .

 

Even after
I pointed to the
illustration
and said ...
"Look, it's you!"

 

... he still

 

didn't get it.

 

 

Life And a Stale Ball of Gum

 

Gumballs -
a quarter for each.
Once your child
turns the cold metal dial,
the show begins.

 

Round and round
it goes,
descending down
the swirly metal track thingy -
making a loud

 

Bang

 

once it has reached its
destination
at the bottom.

 

What are we teaching
our kids?
The downward
spiral
of innocence?

 

Trading your
dreams
for a thirty second
merry-go-round
of stale bubble gum?

 

That everyone’s
one big wish
can be granted
at the sounding of
one pointless

 

gunshot?

 

That same
quarter
will buy your kid two
fake soups
when it's

Published April 2007