Turret, 33X44, watercolor, Gary Buhler
Audio for “MAN IN BLUE,” Charles Springer
MAN IN BLUE
A little girl serves imaginary oolong tea
to a once humble bear in her bedroom.
Older brother appears
by formal invitation of the mother.
Word’s out older brother wants to run them over
with his little truck, leave them splinters.
Tea pretends to cool. The low watt
in the easy-bake oven is raising a last tart.
Mr. Bear is losing patience. He’s hungry,
finds an imaginary sibling shaking in the refrigerator.
He calls a cop who’s been waiting months
to meet the mother, now divorced.
The cop installs an imaginary siren
in the older brother’s little truck. He points Mr. Bear
toward a hive. He gives the little tea server
something silver from his pocket. And wraps
the little fridge shaker in a blanket
he can hold on to through life.
_______________
Charles Springer