She Asked for a Poem/ poem by Mike Jurkovic

She Asked for a Poem

They don’t make quaaludes any more
she said   out of the blue   taking a seat
Y’know  you’re right  I said  recalling
the rush   The warmth of sedation
They replaced it  w/ heroin   which killed
of course   she said   And I   having attended
six memorials  and sidestepping three  agreed
w/a silence   that killed   What wine is that  
she asked  surely a soldier  of Blue Nun  Ripple
Thunderbird   Mateus    Tuscany 2020  I say  
hoping I sounded  like I said   A glass of that   
she smiled   As the pour commenced   
she asked for a poem    A poem of  place   
of  wine   of a man  content   w/  himself   
and I  never at a loss for words   
obliged

/////


2025 Ulster County Poet Laureate, Mike Jurkovic has been published globally but with little reportable income. Full-length collections include Buckshot Reckoning, mooncussers, American Mental, (Luchador Press 2023, 2022, 2020); haiku collections Monet’s Bamboo (CAPS Press, 2025) Blue Fan Whirring, (Nirala Press, 2018). President, Calling All Poets, 26 years in the Hudson Valley. 2016 Pushcart nominee. CD reviews appear online at All About Jazz and lightwoodpress.com. He is the Monday 9am-10:30am host of NuJazzXcursions,WVKR-91.3FM Vassar College. He loves Emily most of all.

Mike is a frequent contributor to Lightwood. Read more poetry, reviews and articles by Mike Jurkovic here on Lightwood. Scroll to our Search Link and insert his name.