Poetry by Mike Corrao, Collage by Megan Fox.
New Beats
I miss Ginsberg’s Howl
monotone recordings
of podium talks from
dive bars with snapping
friends in the audience.
I think Kerouac
was a bit of a sexist
who wrote good haikus.
Burroughs yearned stayed off topic;
beautifully boxy tails that run from
and along the backs of serpent
men inhaling too much television.
I hope I don’t miss a beat in a
new generation
who would like to join in the
moving feet to accomplish more
feats than the dead movements
before us who took a bit more
than one person to get a foot up.
Another American Experiment.
Radio Now Hits
Smooth collaged dorm room college radio voices
tell siren tranced audiences to untie themselves
from masts and to come close and listen to
upcoming pop beats.
Records spin between singular fingers with polished
painted nails hushed under mellow tones so
listeners wouldn’t scamper off into Huey Lewis
news stations with leaned back suits and ties
reclined in casual fashion.
Here it comes, lovely listeners – says clichéd alliteration
when needle touches vinyl ridge in anticipation
for lovely soliloquy.
Crackling nostalgia comes to a simmer then a boil with
the help of thumbs-up higher-ups.
Let the song play sweet in enchanting beat while we
all wait for the upright bass to spin and for
the chant to flow with Artie Shaw charisma.
Mike Corrao is a current student at the University of Minnesota studying English and film. When he isn’t writing, editing, pitching ideas, or frustrated shouting at his laptop, he enjoys watching old foreign films and hanging out with friends. His work has been published in Century Magazine, 365tomorrows and Thrice.
Megan Fox is a vintage enthusiast living in Minneapolis, hugging kittens and stomping on the patriarchy in big black boots. Check out her music projects here and here, and check out her Instagram here.