there's a kid
sitting cross-legged
under a pinball machine
scratching
the end
of an opened wire hanger
against the wall
wanna play?
i lean under
and ask
not tall enough
he says
sure you are
i get a chair
he works the left flipper
i work the right
it's a simpsons
machine
you watch simpsons?
i ask
i don't watch cartoons
i only watch wwe
he says
slamming a fist
as we lose a ball
he's got a face
like a badger
underfed
a little grey
in the skin
you here
by yourself?
i ask
mom’s out there
he says
pointing to a train-wreck
in cut-off jeans
sharing a cigarette
with a moon-faced
pile of bones
who’s the guy?
i don't know him
jonathan!
get out here
his mom calls
she gets in a rusted out
taurus
with the guy
and drives off
mom says
she'll be back
in an hour
he flashes a five
slides it
into the
quarter machine.
_
Justin Hyde is a poet and Literary Editor for The Commonline Journal. He is the former Poetry Editor of Thieves Jargon and the author of the chapbooks Down Where the Hummingbird Goes to Die (2008) and Another Casualty at the 34th St. Bus Stop (2009). His last collection of poems is An Elephant Hole (2014, Interior Noise Press). He lives in Iowa and works with criminals.
sitting cross-legged
under a pinball machine
scratching
the end
of an opened wire hanger
against the wall
wanna play?
i lean under
and ask
not tall enough
he says
sure you are
i get a chair
he works the left flipper
i work the right
it's a simpsons
machine
you watch simpsons?
i ask
i don't watch cartoons
i only watch wwe
he says
slamming a fist
as we lose a ball
he's got a face
like a badger
underfed
a little grey
in the skin
you here
by yourself?
i ask
mom’s out there
he says
pointing to a train-wreck
in cut-off jeans
sharing a cigarette
with a moon-faced
pile of bones
who’s the guy?
i don't know him
jonathan!
get out here
his mom calls
she gets in a rusted out
taurus
with the guy
and drives off
mom says
she'll be back
in an hour
he flashes a five
slides it
into the
quarter machine.
_
Justin Hyde is a poet and Literary Editor for The Commonline Journal. He is the former Poetry Editor of Thieves Jargon and the author of the chapbooks Down Where the Hummingbird Goes to Die (2008) and Another Casualty at the 34th St. Bus Stop (2009). His last collection of poems is An Elephant Hole (2014, Interior Noise Press). He lives in Iowa and works with criminals. 