poem of the day 07.13.15

another poet in new york

it’s too hot to write poetry

in the summertime in new york

it’s too hot to do anything

but read rejection letters and listen

to the morning d.j. tell me

gee, it’s going to be another scorcher

before playing something pleasant

to mix with the bass from the asshole

parked outside my bedroom window

rejections letters that tell me

i’m not fit for publication or much else lately

one tries to butter me up calling me a poetic badass but…

i don’t feel like such a badass

being in your slush pile, dipshit

and just for the record

i think it’s an act of cowardice

to sign your letter, “the editors”

you might as well sign it “the assholes” too

i want to know who’s rejecting me, pal

there’s four of you on staff

i know because i’ve studied your fucking faces

one of you has to have a set balls

enough self-confidence to pound out your name

and say, this is what i believe

i mean let’s stand toe to toe at least once

but it’s too hot in new york

to fight with poetry editors anyway

fighting with poetry editors

is like slapping an old women around

to be honest i never read

the magazines until they reject me

and then i just feel justified

thankful not to be a part of their clique

really, this morning i have

more of a bone to pick with this d.j.

laughing over the weather

as i sit here in sweat and misery

another poet in new york

with nothing in the world to write about

except his every injustice

probably not even the only poet on this block

which is just a cold comfort

on such a hot and lousy day.