Joe Cottonwood

Meet the Staff

My guide is Cherie
petite, tawny-cheeked
with a handshake feathery
like grasping a goldfinch.
I imagine her naked.

Dennis who we call Chopper
because big chrome bad boy cycle mania
mail boy, rapid handshake.
I imagine naked.

Gummi the Mongolian
dresses with dignity black suit, blue tie
goofy smile, flabby handshake.
Probably fun naked.

Nora the dark beauty
truly lovely, somehow untouchable
warm handshake like steamed linen
lightly scented of lavender.
Everybody imagines naked.

Carl the red fox
greets you with a red glare
lips drawn tight, teeth sharp white
handshake has claws.
Don ’t go naked.

Latham like a fourth Stooge
but black
gap between front teeth
dead serious handshake.
Any questions? Ask Latham, he ’ll know.
Somehow always naked.

Frank is frankly the generic white guy
smell of whiskey after lunch
sweet on Dottie the receptionist
who smells of Frank after lunch
simple handshakes, they wish me well.
Leave them alone.

Dick outwardly seems easygoing
gum-chewer from L.A.
but eyes that drill, goes in for the kill
tough handshake.
Strip him naked.

Mary I ’ll never meet
sends flirty messages over teletype
from Budapest.
Maybe naked.

Dale immense fat man, hockey fiend
legendary for kicking ass over the phone.
Dale ’s wife Gail brings him lunch
slim blond cocktail waitress
the hard niceness, the cool pleasantness
a survival skill. Dale and Gail
show photos two kids blond girls.
No. No no no.

Cherie warns they keep it chilly
so the machines won ’t overheat.
She ’s sure I ’ll fit in here.
Dress warm.

 

Joe Cottonwood has repaired hundreds of houses to support his writing habit in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. His latest books of poetry are Foggy Dog and Random Saints.