One Star Filled Night Jerry Found Power While Looking for Parts-Jacob Lasham
One Star Filled Night Jerry Found Power While Looking for Parts
By Jacob Lasham
Jerry Sparrow traveled alone in his car.
Pass cornrows and unemployment lines
He said, the soundtrack of windows rolled down,
Yet never sounding convinced. Sure
Jerry had his dry humps and breadbaskets
But love was something that has greasy parts.
It’s steered with hand and foot.
When it brakes down all it needs is a little money
Or moonless nights jumping junkyard fences.
But one time Jerry was caught;
Put to sleep by the sound of wind and a home-
Run to the back of the head. When he woke up,
Hands bound and belly down as if
A peninsula in a bay of blood, a foot
Was punching the back of his neck like an accelerator.
Accompanied was a towered voice of diagnosis,
Either I kill ya or we turnin’ that one-way
Into a two-way. Months after being bent
Over a lime green Pontiac Ventura with head
Viced by hands at ten and twelve Sparrow
Returned to the junkyard during business hours.
The sheet medaled shop rang with greasy parts
And cars were on lifts as if it was biblical.
You needin’ somethin’, asks a skinny grease ball
Wiping his hands with a red handkerchief and anchoring
His legs below his shoulders.
Jerry, breathless
With a stomach full of bumper cars, nods.
Copyright C 2007 Jacob Lasham