LITERARY
by Jamey Jones
for Lewis Warsh
Guppy is a funny word, but
For whatever reason I don’t
Think I ever saw that until
You used it once or twice in
The stanza of a poem you were
Working on. This was in a dream
I recently had. I didn’t see it
On the page, but listened
As you read it aloud to me
And Barbara. You were not
Trying to point out the
clown-like quality of guppy.
In fact, you read it in a kind
Of a serious tone, which actually
Was the best way to do this,
Show how funny that word is.
This was not your intention, but
It happened anyway and Barbara
And I both laughed at the same
Time, which took you by surprise.
You seemed to not understand,
Looking at us in a slightly indignant,
But more like bemused, way,
Puzzled, which made us laugh
More, though we were almost
Trying not to, but couldn’t help
It, the guppy doors were fully
Opened, and you shook your
Head at us a little, as if to
Ask what’s so funny, and
Your bafflement eased into
A slight, but genuine, smile.
About the Poet:
Jamey Jones lives in Pensacola, FL and is the author of several books and chapbooks, including Blue Rain Morning (Farfalla Press / McMillan & Parrish 2011), In The Key of Clothespin (Fell Swoop 2021) and the recently published morning coffee from the other side (WFLF 2021). He teaches poetry at Pensacola State College and is the editor of the college’s literary journal Hurricane Review.
