Poem of the Week By John Yamrus

Biography:

John Yamrus is widely recognized as master of minimalism and the neo-noir in modern poetry. In a career spanning more than 50 years as a working writer, he has had nearly 4,000 poems published in books, magazines and anthologies around the world. His writing is often taught in college and university courses. Three of his more than 40 books have been published in translation. There is a super review of John’s body of work in the latest issue of Erato Magazine! Check it out.

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Backstory:

Gedda’s was this little bar in Plymouth, Pa. that my parents used to go to every now and then. They went to other bars pretty much every night, but only went to Gedda’s when we went to see my aunt Helen and Uncle Frank. The place is abandoned now, and they’re all dead. The only thing left are my memories and this poem.

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Gedda’s was

this little
shot and beer joint
our parents used to take us to

when
we were kids.
me and my sister.

i was
maybe 5 and
we’d sit with them
at the end of the bar and
Mrs. G would give us nickels

that we’d
put in the machine
to get those red pistachios

and
my father
showed us how
to tip the machine
and turn the crank real slow

to get the most out of it

and
they’d sit
and talk and drink

and
i know
it had to be
the afternoon
because i remember
the light coming in from the street

and
it was red
because of the glass

and
so were
our hands
from the nuts

and
they were
probably drunk

when
we left,
because it was 1956
and that was what you did

when
you had a
couple of bucks

and
a day off

and
no one there
to watch the kids.

©  2925 John Yamrus