by

Corey Mesler

 

The buffer-figure and the dog,

Toby, find Punch

drunk in a blind alley, a

nobbing-slum empty

by his side. They have to keep it

from the public, of

course, a public hungry for

scandal at any price. Punch wakes

up in Judy’s apartment,

unsure how he got there, a washed-

up swatchel, hung over.

Judy is still sleeping, naked by

his side and Punch hits

himself upside his nuddikin.

I’ve got to remember, he says,

what happened last night.

Judy rolls over, still in cuckooland,

smiling the smile, though,

of the crocodile’s satisfaction.