MiPOesias Magazine

DAN COFFEY

Dan Coffey was born in Rochester, NY in 1970 and made his way to Iowa after a very long layover in Buffalo. He is the Languages and Literatures Librarian at Iowa State University, writes when he can, and has published in Jacket, Kiosk, Poetry Bay, Kennesaw Review, and Serving_Suggestion. His book Literary Research and British Postmodern/Contemporary Literature: Strategies and Sources will be published in 2008 by Scarecrow Press. He has recently derived much inspiration from the writings of John Darnielle, the films of Guy Maddin, and the recently rediscovered stories that he wrote in first and second grade. And, yes! He has a blog.

Know Where They Stand

All sides affront.

Someone began or ended a sentence with me.

History has a way of falling behind.

The overcome are coming over around ten;

the hour of the scholar gnaws.

Open wide and let my mysteries know where they stand.

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If a Woman

If a woman built a superhighway
mustn't she keep it to herself?
Unhassled; free from passers as she
speeds toward her lover. (Who just
over the phone told her jones.)

Else, she'd have to share it with
future crashers & honkers crimping
her horizon, & other-laned women
whispering keith to her with their headlights.

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Channeled

I will be channeled by a young girl who
won't think about murdering her parents.

She'll braid her own golden hair
while watching "Price is Right" reruns.

A litany of short-lived pets, who themselves
have channeled other pets, will be her legacy.

A book will be written about her and will include
the controversial channeling years.

When she pulls me into her psyche, I will be sweaty
from having just mowed the lawn.

She'll get me a beer, as she might for her father,
and we'll watch whatever comes on after The Price is Right.