“After you’ve used ‘the news’ and ‘the blues’ nothing much else rhymes with Santa Cruz.”
—Garrison Keillor, May 13, 2009
A Santa Cruz Poet Begs to Differ
The south end of the Garden Mall’s
the place he goes for booze
and to sit at poker tables
while his pile of chips accrues.
He ponders on a plan
to stay a week in Santa Cruz.
He hits the Wharf whose restaurants
serve famous seafood stews
with garlic-seasoned artichokes.
He takes time to peruse
each spicy saucy menu
decorating Santa Cruz.
While he waits he watches ladies
and he checks the ocean views,
the surfers and the sailing boats,
the kayaks and canoes,
and women that walk the tide line
on the beach in Santa Cruz.
Soon he’s at a window table
with two ladies he’ll amuse,
telling tales of how he’s never
followed other folks’ taboos
and he hopes they’ll be as liberal
to him in Santa Cruz.
Then they ride the Giant Dipper
squeezing three in a seat for twos.
Everyone screams, “the shaking
loosens wooden rails and screws.”
He cuddles into both of them
flying high over Santa Cruz.
—J. Zimmerman
J. Zimmerman is a big fan of Mr. Keillor, especially as he gave her the inspiration for this poem. She is also a big fan of all the terrific poets in Santa Cruz, including the three dozen or so that she currently works with.
Poet Robert Sward edits ‘Local Poets, Local Inspiration,’ which appears in this space the first week of each month.
