Rocky Jones

In This Circle

I shall draw a great circle to summon you. 

Within the circle, I shall place

•  a lock of hair from the legendary Shirley Temple

•  a tiger's claw

             given to me by an antique dealer

                         so it's okay because

                                     I mean

                                                  antiques are old,

                                                  and this one,

                                                   given, not sold,

                                                  so, I'm not supporting

                                                  a new tiger-claw market,

•  and a counterfeit

garment thread

said to have been worn by

Sir Isaac Newton

but totally not —

Within this circle, I shall affix a speaker

and a music player

and let into this sacred space

a carefully-selected group of songs

by the Partridge Family —

And, I haven't really worked this out yet, but,

I'll set up some sort of way to diffuse the scent

of Boston Baked Beans candy.

If my magic circle

does not bring you to me,

I shall beseech

Congress,

and rich people,

and the Ascended Christ,

that they might team up

and,

either speak on my behalf,

or find some other way

to salve

my

poor,

moaning

heart.

                                              * * *
Rocky Jones is a musician and multimedia poet. He has performed at Hard Bargain Farm and Hateful Acres and has accompanied his poetry with such instruments as the Chicco Orchestral Xylophone Piano and the cardboard box. His work has appeared in Poets' Ink, Gargoyle Magazine, and MiPOesias.