Three Poems
Brian Beatty

Emeritus Emeritus

He was done being
the smartest fellow
wearing a monocle
everywhere he went.

From here on out
it was going to be
the bohemian thrills
of guns & tattoos

for this intellectual.
Perhaps even a wife
low in porn movies --
w/ a down there there.


Bismarck Cream

I spent the North Dakota
winter reading
everything ever written
about donuts
by old fashioned oil lamp
& candle flame.

I awoke late one morning
sore in my chair.

Without even trying
I'd invented a new history
of this odd place

known for its opaque chill.


The Loath Oath

Reluctant
heroes comes

& goes

hitting it on
their gnosis.