Seven
Seven is a bird, flying on short wings,
singing for all the world
like this day will never end.
Dipping back to seven in sad or
maudlin occasions is a pastime, mostly
For round-bellied lifers, hanging around
the Knights of Columbus or the VFW
drinking 7&7.
Townes and the Spirit
He boards the church stage
and adjusts his cowboy vesture.
A shadow girds the rafters.
A black spirit, he thinks
Tho he just visited the shrine
of St. Therese.
Thank you folks
for having me
I understand you have the best
acoustics…(he trails off)
He looks up,
mouth dry
The spirit takes to the sky
out a hole in the window
to who knows where—
somewhere in that dark
Juneau air— blackness
lingers there. Waiting.
Josh Medsker is a New Jersey poet, originally from Alaska, and is the author of five chapbooks of poetry. His writing has appeared in many publications, including: Contemporary American Voices, The Brooklyn Rail, The Review Review, Haiku Journal, and Red Savina Review. For a complete list of Mr. Medsker’s publications, please visit his website joshmedsker.com