Joe Dolce: Four Poems

Kilroy

was here.

The world’s most well-known

graffito. Bald-headed geezer

with banana-nose peeping over walls,

fingers clutching sides to steady a pea-eyed gaze.

In WWII, the average Joe’s

default method of planting the flag,

on every available wall, barn, railway carriage.

Discovered on so much captured US weaponry,

Hitler thought it a code name.

Even Stalin found Kilroy

perving in his bathroom.

Known as Mr Chad in the UK,

Private Snoops, The Goon and Watcher.

A variety of accompanying slogans included:

Wot, no sugar? 

Wot, no Fuehrer?

In WWI Australia, Foo Was Here.

In Africa, Smoe & Clem.

In Russia, Vasya.

Other nicknames: Flywheel, The Jeep,

Luke the Spook and Stinkie.

Contests held to discover origins—

How Kilroy Got There—

to no avail.

One theory suggested a derivation

of Greek Omega     Ω

the symbol for electrical Resistance.

In 1997, the little witness was

last officially spotted

peeking over the edge

of New…