His Back Pocket & Other Poems — by Mick Cochrane

[Welles]

Mick Cochrane is a professor of English and a longtime teller of stories. His published works include novels, short stories, essays, and poetry. His work is compelling, candid, and cuts straight to the heart of what it means to be human, what it means to experience love, loss, limitation, and transcendence. What follows is a selection of three of his poems. I'm providing the third but you can go here to read the other two. I loved them.

His Back Pocket & Other Poems — by Mick Cochrane

https://www.dailygood.org/story/2884/hi ... -cochrane/


In Zone Three — by Mick Cochrane

no one thanks us for our service
we have accumulated no
points no perks we have no

right to upgrade no hope
of extra leg space or complimentary
anything it doesn't matter what indignity

our poorly packed luggage suffers to make
it fit we are nobodies red-eyed
sleepless lumps of coffee fear

we wear cargo shorts and Crocs
we are the army of the un-
fashionable we are a-stylish we

take no selfies because
we don't want to know we are
flustered by TSA and pet

the wrong dogs we belong
on a bus but we are here please
forgive us our sorry state

our heartache is too sudden
so this one time we must
find a way to fly

[Sandy]

Hi Welles,

Mike Cochran's poems go straight to the heart don't they? Wow...I just read his poem, "My Mother's wooden Spoon" . It is powerful especially for all of us who have experienced decline and loss of a loved one.
Thank you. I am a little bit an emotional mess...but in a good way I think as it opens the ole heart a bit and a little repressed ache can seep out.

love,
Sandy

[Welles]

I am a little bit an emotional mess...but in a good way I think as it opens the ole heart a bit and a little repressed ache can seep out.

Emotional messiness can be a marvelous time. Leaving it can be profoundly empowering.