Beating Up Gary Cooper
Well, almost beating up Gary Cooper.
Imagine the rush as a second-rate character actor
even a first-rate baddie — gets to hit,
well, pretend hit,
one of the screen's legends,
even if he did have to sneak up.
They would always have to sneak up
'cause that would be their only chance
against Coop. And the retribution,
forget about it. I once saw him
beat someone up and then take his pants off:
"Man of the West", it was. Some man.
Even Lee J. Cobb was speechless,
but pleased.
Thanks, Gary for taking those lumps,
well, pretend lumps;
it made all our lives seem fairer, better.
A seventh generation Pittsburgher, Jay Carson taught creative writing, literature, and rhetoric at Robert Morris University for many years, where he was a University Professor and a faculty advisor to the student literary journal, Rune. Jay regularly presents, reads, and publishes. More than 60 of his poems have appeared in local and national literary journals, magazines, and anthologies. He co-edited with Judith Robinson a collection of Margaret Menamin's poetry entitled The Snow Falls Up. Jay has recently published a chapbook, Irish Coffee (Coal Hill Review). A full-length book of his poems entitled The Cinnamon of Desire was published by Main Street Rag in the late fall of 2012. Jay considers his poetry Appalachian, Irish, accessible, the problem-solving spiritual survival of a raging youth — and just what you might need.