American River Review 2022 - copy - Flipbook - Page 69
Ode to 720 Guerrero Street Uncle Tony
By Cathy Arellano
don’t want no goddamned poem to
me
especially an ode!
what the hell’s an ode anyway?
his words tickle his neatly trimmed
moustache
into a wide smile
he turns his head to the right
and his eyebrows lift
just as his arms fold
and he brings his hands together
as in prayer
jesus fucken christ!
don’t put that shit in there!
that’s why i don’t want a goddamn
o-ohwhat the hell’s that bullshit?
an ide
ide?!
ode, Uncle!
i mean ode!
i don’t want a damn ode!
it’s a type of poem
what type?
the type that you can’t type?
he chuckles
no, it’s the type
that are written for someone heroic
for someone who has—
fuck that shit, Barrel
oh, excuse me
can i call you that?
i know you don’t like to be called that
but can i call you that?
Yes, you can call me that
Well, you used to get all…
sensitive and mad
you couldn’t take a joke
I was a teenager, Uncle
I was sensitive
You’re not sensitive anymore?
I’m still sensitive but I get it now
I understand you and the rest of the
family aren’t trying to…
humiliate me
Humiliate? That’s some deep shit
We were just playing with you kids
aw man, those were some funny
times he laughs to himself
yeah, I laughed to myself
ok, so back to to to...poetry?
the ode has a long history
of paying tribute
i don’t want no damn tribute
ok, not tribute
you just said tribute
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