WITH SO MANY THINGS TO GET RIGHT
for Jim Hanlen
I’m in the free car wash line reading your poem.
The Mountain’s so kind to greet you,
Mountain meets Poet.
This is Grand Opening.at Ducky Car Wash.
Free All Day.
You can’t tip the workers getting wet.
I say to the man in the necktie,
You’re a bunch of cheap Sons of Bitches.
Other things have to do with cookies.
I’ve found the best oatmeal raisin cookies in town.
Winco and Rosauer’s tied for Best Cookie.
Only Oatmeal Raisin. Winco ‘s three bucks cheaper
for a dozen. They’re not as pretty
but they include pecans.
I told the baker at Rosauer’s she doesn’t get
extra points for what the cookies look like.
The manager at Winco refuses my offer
of the Rosauer cookie. Take me
to the baker, I say, a bit over the top.
I’m still in line at the Car Wash,
writing you with thumbs on my phone.
The boys are wearing ties—neck ties.
I’m pissed they can’t take tips.
You could walk out with real money
in your pockets at 5 o’clock..
500 bucks maybe a grand with tips.
Jim Bodeen
He cracks a tiny smile when I tell him to organize.
I’ll help with the strike if we can drop the wipe-down rags
at 2 pm when lines are long.
You don’t think I’m serious, do you? I say.
I’m on your side, brother.
I’ll show your guys what to do
with those ties on our way to the street.
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