Wednesday Night Poetry Features Justin Stubie Smith

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The 1,774th Wednesday Night Poetry will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Kollective Coffee and Tea, 110 Central Ave.

This week's featured poet is Justin Stubie Smith.

The following is an original poem by Smith:

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by Justin Stubie Smith

Some songs make me think twice..

like Roger Clyde and the Peacemakers, and their song about a grain of rice.

It was nice.

Imagine, each person you loved, their name, on a grain, of rice.

It makes me miss Mama’s Swiss steak, still steaming on the stovetop. It makes me ‘member all the meals fulfilled, chillin’ around the dinner table.

The details seem so grainy now.

My Dad had.. provided so much food, so many bags..

but he was always packing his.

I was just a kid. I didn’t want Uncle Ben. I needed my Father.. just as much now, as I did then.

Now, I can’t pretend, that I went hungry. The fridge was always full. So much meat. Cheese out the dairy-aire, you butter believe it. Convoluted condiments, stacked, stuffed, shoved.. like seasoned soldiers ready to squeeze their saucy souls into our supper, even though they expired in 2006. They just couldn’t separate themselves from their sticky spot on the shelf, same.

I would have crossed a thousand islands for you, my green goddess.. but I’m not even a ranch hand. As much as I’d like to ketchup with you, I’m not sure if I could relish that moment, which just doesn’t cut the mustard with me.

There are some things that are just hard to say.

War-chester-shire?

Wooster-sure?

You’re breaking my heart?

Your love was like Louisiana Hot, or Mike’s. I’d put that shit on everything, and it’s slowly giving me an ulcer.

Maybe that’s why I never bought a microwave. The good things in life just take more time. If our love was truly imprinted on a grain of rice, how and why would you want it ready in under 60 seconds?

Not to sound salty, but, Yo Soy.

Sometimes, I feel like one of those fortune cookies. Cracked open, with a message I poured my fucking heart into. Stuffed in your pocket or specified spot in your car door.. not knowing if the numbers on the back could change our lives, or be another waste of $5.

WNP was established Feb. 1, 1989, by the late Bud Kenny, and has never missed a Wednesday meeting. It claims the title of "the longest-running weekly consecutive open mic series in the country."

Kai Coggin is the current host of the series.

WNP is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.