An Ode to the Midwest, in a poem called, "Ode to the Midwest

Interesting...

Ode to the Midwest
by Kevin Young

I want to be doused
in cheese
& fried. I want
to wander
the aisles, my heart's
supermarket stocked high
as cholesterol. I want to die
wearing a sweatsuit—
I want to live
forever in a Christmas sweater,
a teddy bear nursing
off the front. I want to write
a check in the express lane.
I want to scrape
my driveway clean
myself, early, before
anyone's awake—
that'll put em to shame—
I want to see what the sun
sees before it tells
the snow to go. I want to be
the only black person I know.
I want to throw
out my back & not
complain about it.
I wanta drive
two blocks. Why walk—
I want love, n stuff—
I want to cut
my sutures myself.
I want to jog
down to the river
& make it my bed—
I want to walk
its muddy banks
& make me a withdrawal.
I tried jumping in,
found it frozen—
I'll go home, I guess,
to my rooms where the moon
changes & shines
like television.

Comments

WDL said…
It is true. All true. I moved from NY to Chicago, to Ohio, to Wisconsin (where I am happily employed as a librarian). I have never in my life been exposed to so much food, politeness, and cold weather.

enjoy your summer break!

xo,
WDL
July 20, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Anonymous said…
Ha. I really like this. I can relate to those feelings.
July 22, 2007 at 8:27 PM
Monster Librarian said…
Thanks WDL! I couldn't believe that one of my favorite bloggers honored me with a comment!
July 25, 2007 at 12:43 PM
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