Joe Dolce: Four Poems
Jolokia
The ghost
India’s cruellest chili pepper
four hundred times the punch of Tabasco
Guinness Record’s hottest until
superseded in 2012 by Trinidad Scorpion
nicknamed Noga after ferocious Naga warriors
Bih Jolokia the poison Jolokia
the mighty chili the rough chili
ripe peppers coloured red
orange yellow chocolate
a food a spice a relief from sunheat
weaponized by the Indian Army
a tear gas grenade for mob control rioters and terrorists
imparting distinctive flavour to curries chutneys
smeared on fences in Northern India
will repel wild elephants.
Joe Dolce
Dry Whisky Tongue
Bring me scotch whisky for my dry whisky tongue
your wine is much too tame
your wine is much too tame
an old girl to kiss my dry whisky tongue
Laphroaig is her name
Miss Laphroaig is her name
six weeks of drought with a dry whisky tongue
I need some whisky rain
I need some whisky rain
your tears will not quench my dry whisky tongue
saltwater ain’t…
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