Kathryn Asbury

Moorpark, CA, USA

Poetry rolled around in my head before I had a stroke in 1995. Now it's a reality. With poetry, I think people have the opportunity to relate stories of experiences to keep culture and folklore alive. To learn a command of our language, by learning good English and finding out what slang is and how to use it. I give rappers and songwriters much credit in our society. What sounds good and makes people happy is something to give people that money can't buy. Poetry shouldn't be boring.

Jersey City Drummer

When I was sixteen, cohortin' with kids on my street,
Johnny P. was two years younger than me,
and so good and sweet.
Walkin' home with him, I happened to confide,
I was fancy free, no boyfriend at my side.
I became a victim of his suggestion.
He said it was a match, to go out with his drum teacher.
A plan he'd try to hatch.
After giving lessons, he'd park in front of my house,
just to see if I'd go out -
with him - Mr. Slick, who strutted all about.
"I come from Jersey City - a man of twenty-one."
And so I relented - got in the car -
we went around the block.
"You know I'm too young - Please, these
Advances have to stop
Jersey City drummer - I'm too young for you,
you're livin' in the fast lane,
And you're wonderin' what you're goin' to do.

The Jackalope of Manhattan

Going down the escalator in the
Port Authority at 42nd Street
Everyone sees the little shop "Tee Pee Town,"
that celebrates cowboy and Indian treats
Pants, boots, beads, and fringes
But looking up in front
amongst their billboard sign,
totally just a space of about 18 inches.
The stuffed head of a jackalope,
looms out to watch commuters
speeding to their way.
I wonder if they notice him and
do they ever care
just what kind of animal this is
and if he's very rare.
Wino's occasionally look up
to pay homage, and nanny's pushing
carriages of rattan -
At this sentinel - "The Jackalope of Manhattan."

Facts, Beliefs and the Occult

Strange beliefs we have and hold,
of them, to us a story's told.

To believe in superstition-
is thought to be bad.

But what if things come true,
then that's more than a fad.

Life's occult can be outrageous,
outlandishly bizarre.

But maybe with introspection,
our boundaries can go far.