CONJUNCTIONS:32 Spring 1999
Poems and Drawings
John Yau and Trevor Winkfield
WALT WHITMAN POEM FOR POSTERITY
I am an indigestible vapor rising from the dictionary
you sweep under your embroidered pillow
My only offer: A kidnapped dog in exchange for your thirst
Call me Zanzibar Sam, Bulging Pharoah, Narcoleptic Swill
Custom labyrinths made to order, purveyor of mid-sized jungles
a gravedigger counting shoes in a candlelit saloon
A miracle erupted from a reunion of mouse and sow, horse and hubby
Son became bagged contraband penetrating ring of nibbled pyres
Me criminal puss no longer muzzled and mugged by snoring camera
Me signaled pasty or patsy, but donned smooth glacial twitches
Mere slip in a sequined slapper, lolling whimper of purring grape,
not just smoothed flotsam bulk and hankering moss
Inside me dwells a nude drummer toy, all pomade and fancy,
while the outer me, the bun you tufted, was heavy-lipped
reflection of uncanny twittering admists gnawed leaves
__________
Previous Poem and Drawing
An additional Peter Lorre poem by John Yau and three additional drawings by Trevor Winkfield can be found in the print issue of Conjunctions:32, Eye to Eye