John Dorsey Returns Speaking of Stars Covered In Rust, Woody Guthrie, And A Heroin Needle Sun

Highway D 



here the sun is a hot spike

a needle in the arm

of some lonely field

grown over with stars

covered in rust



your stomach is always half full

& the car never starts 

before your first cup of coffee

it wouldn’t dare.





California Blood Money 

for david smith 

 

woody guthrie tasted its soil 

dancing in starlight 

he winked at the skyline 



what is it like   

to run your hands 

through so much regret?




John Dorsey lived for several years in Toledo, Ohio. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including Teaching the Dead to Sing: The Outlaw's Prayer (Rose of Sharon Press, 2006), Sodomy is a City in New Jersey (American Mettle Books, 2010), Tombstone Factory, (Epic Rites Press, 2013), Appalachian Frankenstein (GTK Press, 2015) Being the Fire (Tangerine Press, 2016) and Shoot the Messenger (Red Flag Press, 2017). He is the current Poet Laureate of Belle, MO. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He may be reached at archerevans@yahoo.com.