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superseded in 2012 by Trinidad Scorpion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 the same

saltwater just ain’t the same

 

I woke in a sweat with a dry whisky tongue

that little whisky ghost

was jumping in my brain

 

if I go blind with my dry whisky tongue

send a whisky dog

to guide home my aim

 

if surely I must die with a dry whisky tongue

place some whisky flowers

down there by my name.

 

Joe Dolce

 

Black Caesar:  The First Bushranger

 

John Caesar fled to England from plantation slavery

born in Madagascar or West Indies—it wasn’t clear

tried and then convicted in Kent for petty theft

shipped to the penal colony in New South Wales for seven years

 

Caesar! Hail Caesar! Black Caesar was his name

transported by the First Fleet in chains to Botany Bay

escaped with just a musket from the jailer’s whip and rack

come hear ye all Australians—the first bushranger was black

 

Black Caesar plundered farms and huts on outskirts of the towns

his frame was strong muscular well-calculated for hard work

reputed to be the hardest living convict of the Crown

five gallons of rum was offered by the Governor for his return

 

Now Pemulwuy an Aboriginal of the Bidjigal clan

attacked John Caesar and his crew one night in Botany Bay

seven pellets of lead buckshot lodged in that warrior’s skull

but Caesar only grazed him and Pemulwuy got away

 

sly Caesar was indifferent about meeting his own death

at the threat of hanging by the neck the convict merely scoffed

he bragged he’d play a trick upon the executioner

and create a laugh for all who watched before he was turned off

 

John Wimbow and another man allured by the reward

found his haunt and concealed themselves in brush behind a shed

in the morning Caesar emerged but before he sensed the threat

John Wimbow fired his musket there and shot the convict dead

 

Caesar! Hail Caesar! Black Caesar was his name

transported by the First Fleet in chains to Botany Bay

escaped with just a musket from the jailer’s whip and rack

come hear ye all Australians—the first bushranger was black.

 

Joe Dolce

 

IN THE MANNER OF CAVAFY

Certainly Petrius        achieves a somewhat similar

tone of voice        the historical perspective

his unexpected humour        often dividing lines

for emphasis        in the manner of the master

(as this poem demonstrates        by illustration

the beguilement        of the technique)

but Petrius is not        a master

too timid        to step out onto the parapet

into the brightness        of his true self

he remains  content        to huddle there in shadow

donning the discarded        personae of the teacher

like a child        in a party costume

 

do not be deceived Yorgos        by his standing

in academia        his reputation

amongst men of letters        the accolades accumulated

the fine journal        he edits

these are illusions        his poems  are forgotten

almost as soon        as they are written

Petrius is a pretender        content to remain

in the shade        of a great writer

too timid to venture out        onto the terrifying parapet.

 

Joe Dolce