The stoop was our stage
so step aside and
let this shaman
show you the shuffle
that stops ‘em dead
along Fordham Road.
That keeps ‘em
comin’ back
to East 1 3 8
and the cadence
of the curb
and the cool
of the Corner Boys
crooning in front
of Fatima’s Falafel,
her saffron and dill
making sweet
the otherwise
diesel air.
(this poem first appeared in the book, Buckshot Reckoning.)
/////
Mike Jurkovic's recent literary forays include a book of haiku: Monet's Bamboo. He is currently the Poet Laureate of Ulster County, NY.
Mike Jurkovic publishes globally with little reportable income. His full length books include Buckshot Reckoning, mooncussers, AmericanMental, (Luchador Press 2023, 2022, 2020). Blue Fan Whirring (Nirala Press, 2018) and is a 2016 Pushcart nominee. President of Calling All Poets, now celebrating its 25th year. Reviews appear at All About Jazz & lightwoodpress.com.
He hosts New Jazz Excursions,Mondays, 9-10am, WVKR-91.3FM Vassar College. The Rock n Roll Curmudgeon appeared in Rhythm and News Magazine, 1996-2003. He loves Emily most of all.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaBbZUXlzmQ0lj2DCg3ydg/videos
Mike is a frequent contributor to Lightwood as a poet, music critic and creative writer. He is one of the creators of CALLING ALL POETS, a small press and reading series (live and zoom) in the Hudson Valley.
Read his other works here on Lightwood by entering his name on our Search Button.
Lightwood 