THAT MOTHERFUCKER MEPHISTOPHELES' METHODICAL FREAKISH PALLOR

by Colin James

Tough to tell from a statue.
Was he truly in possession
of his inner jerk? The writings
are somewhat ambiguous.
I hesitate to increase
my debt to an interpreter
whose sandals screech.
The more refined version,
or long laced variety, worn
by an olive-skinned waitress
just down the road a piece
of historical interest is not all
any of us can naively afford.

Colin James has a book of poetry, Resisting Probability, From Sagging Meniscus Press and a chapbook of poems forthcoming from Scriptor Press.