Hello again and thanks for all the support! Summertime is here again and for some of us with a vengeance! Enjoy your holidays safely. Here is a re-post to get you in the mood, aptly titled July Cool. And once again, as always, for Amy wherever she may be.
Peace,
BJ
July
Cool
by
BJ Neblett
©
2008, 2013
Burning July
sidewalks as hot as
the tip of the
smoldering punk
clenched tightly
between
teeth and gum
like some fancy cigar
because we were cool
in red hi-tops
and white T shirts
sleeves rolled
with empty Marlboro
packs
like the older dudes
because it was cool
cool as the locking
blade
knife ordered
from the last page of
a Green Lantern comic
book
it bounced in the back
pocket
of our torn
and faded jeans
stained with rainbow
badges
proclaiming our cool
bloody nose red
and fishing hook green
and the wide dirt brown
stripe
from sliding into home
Torturous July
stealthy pendulum
hovering between youth
and tomorrow
when we were cool
and not yet cool
like the tarnished
silver ring
that spent July
sleeping
in that cool little
pocket in my jeans
I bought it from
Woolworths
to give to Amy Johnson
in the flickering
coolness
of a Saturday matinee
it felt warm
and full of promises
but I didn’t give it to
her
because I was too cool
or not cool enough
and Chris called me
a coward
and he was right
so I bought popcorn
with my last four bits
just to hear Amy’s
freckled laughter
and taste her hazel
eyes
that made my stomach
bubble
Enchanted July
when days exploded
with sunshine
and dandelions
and wishes
like the Black Kats
and Lady Fingers
we ignited with the
punks
we pretended to smoke
when shy fireflies
sang in Morse code
and bold butterflies
kissed
when I got my first
pair
of Matador boots
but had to wait
till September
to wear them to school
because they were cool
and they made me cool
Sultry July
of watermelon days
and transistor nights
when one Willie Mays
was worth two Richie
Ashburn’s
unless you lived in
Philly
that magical July
our clubhouse
in the woods
became the smoking spot
no more un-cool punks
we had Salems
from mom’s purse
and Chesterfields
for twenty five cents a
pack
they burned our throats
like the warm Schlitz
beer
Timmy stole
from a neighbor’s
garage
then the smoking spot
became the drinking
spot
the same spot
where I first touched
Robin
in that spot
and Amy knew
and killed me
with her hazel eyes
that made my stomach
bubble
Ineluctable July
of inky nights
spent hanging out
because we were cool
trouble matured with us
from playground
to bowling alley
to pool hall
we were too old
for the curfews
we ignored
too old and too cool
but too young to drive
except for the cars
I stole
to impress the guys
and to win back
Amy Johnson
who told me
I was just too cool
Too cool for the July
that melted too soon
like the tangerine sun
and the jealous moon
and Amy’s hazel eyes
that made my stomach
bubble
that cool July
For Amy, wherever you
are thank you
