Hijinx or Bust
Hijinx or bust, a phrase from Abner Porzio‘s poem ‘Californian Illusion’ (Issue 29), holds the live, baby, live impetus found in much of his work. Words swoop and swerve. Imagery leaps from the page. And, by the end, we find that we have shifted a little as well.
Abner has kindly gifted us with another of his crackling poems, ‘Ves & Ab Kicked In after Kicked Out.’ Here’s what he told us about this new piece: “Very different from a reclusive lifestyle, this poem is about a couple learning to trust each other. The Petrarchan sonnet has been turned upside down. I rearranged its ending stanza to begin this formal poem.” Enjoy!
Ves & Ab Kicked In after Kicked Out
by Abner Porzio
I check in at the bottom of the Jacuzzi,
only to resurface palms up. We owed us
a zillion kisses. Comforted Ves, sinking in
one spot, used to pool hop. Jets pat back. Relaxation
becomes easy like being stuffed with roast
turkey. College accomplishment thoughts nonstop…
Today, had signed first year lease for apartment home.
Chlorine bubbles don’t pop. Waterfall confetti.
Few weeks prior, rain permeated through tent. Remained
lovers. We got kicked out of ranch owner’s flat-
tire mobile home, raw sewage leakage; Ves told
her: “We’ll pay. No more mucking stalls for our rent,
we need a water heater.” Snuck more showers at
school, and Lost Dutchman State Park. Ate free bread with mold.
To read ‘Californian Illusion’, and for more from Issue 29, visit our bookstore!
Abner Porzio very recently had his poem ‘The Boiling River’ selected for publication in the poetry anthology Aurora, Volume 02. His sestina ‘Watch Winter Fall Up’ was published in The Road Not Taken: The Journal of Formal Poetry (Fall 2019, Volume 13, Issue 3). Abner’s first publication, his sonnet ‘The Fastest Five Finger Roulette Ever’, was in the international magazine New Poetry.
Are you a poet? For your chance to appear in the pages of Pulp and on our blog, check out The Magpie Award for Poetry!
With a $500 top prize and publication in Issue 32, Autumn 2021, the Magpie is your chance to soar! The contest closes 15 April. For all the details, and to enter, visit the website.
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