TRAFFIC JAMS

by Alexis-Rueal 

The New Yorker cover out today.

He said what he needed to say--
gave the hordes heads on a platter
garnished it with his disdain,

and denial.

For nearly two hours, he
closed off the bridge bombasity and pride
had used as inroads to public perception.

"Traffic Study," he told them.
Had to test-drive some humility before the
exploratory committee holds their first meeting,
before the Iowa caucus. Before the first straw poll.

Before everyone forgot how he once stood next to the President.

When people had thought he could build bridges.


Alexis-Rueal is a Columbus, Ohio poet. She is the author of Letter to 20 from Poet's Haven Press, was a member of the 2013 National Poetry Slam team from the Writers' Block poetry night, and has performed at the Columbus Arts Festival "Word is Art" stage,

CHRISTIE HIAWATHA

by Joe Pacheco




“I worked the cones, actually, unbeknownst to everybody.” 
--New Jersey Governor Christie joke at his Press Conference, January 9, 2014


By the bridge of Fort Lee city,
Guys once went to make their bones,
Unbeknownst to everybody,
Actually, I worked the cones.

Port Authority bogus study:
What if we shut down two zones?
Unbeknownst to everybody,
Actually, I worked the cones.

Timed just right for 9 September:
School begins for Buono’s clones.
Unbeknownst to everybody,
Actually, I worked the cones.

Four full days of jams and tie-ups,
Staff delights at drivers’ groans.
Unbeknownst to everybody,
Actually, I worked the cones.

Jersey Dems from their glass houses
Have no business throwing stones.
Unbeknownst to everybody,
Actually, I worked the cones.

When they vote me Chief Commander
With full power over drones,
Let it beknownst to everybody,
Actually, I worked the cones.


Joseph Pacheco is a retired New York City superintendent living on Sanibel Island.  His poetry has been featured several times on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, Latino USA and WGCU. He has performed his poetry with David Amram’s jazz quartet at the Bowery Poets Café and Cornelia Street Café in New York City. He writes a poetry column for the Sanibel Islander and his poetry has appeared in English and Spanish in the News-Press. In 2008 he received the Literary Artist of the Year award from Alliance for the Arts. He has published three books of poetry, The First of the Nuyoricans/Sailing to Sanibel,  Alligator in the Sky and, most recently, Sanibel Joe’s Songbook.