Identify

I wrote a poem
in which I referenced

Mark Morris
Ellen Smith
Joy Katz

I was tempted
to even throw in
Yvonne DeCarlo.

I remembered
what Curt Debor
said:

"Michael, just because you know someone
doesn't mean they're famous."

I also remember
Ziggy
tying those sheets together,
climbing out that window.

back to issue

Michael Wurster has lived in Pittsburgh since 1964 and is a founding member of Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange. He has received a Shaded Room Magazine Pittsburgh Award, the 1980 COSMEP Conference MVP Award, a Harry Schwalb Excellence in the Arts Award from Pittsburgh Magazine, and a Petracca Family Award from Philadelphia Poets. In 2015, a sandwich was named for him by Pittsburgh Steak Co. His books include The Snake Charmer's Daughter, and The British Detective. He has co-edited, with Judith Robinson, the anthologies Along These Rivers: Poetry & Photography from Pittsburgh and The Brentwood Anthology, a collection of poems by members of the Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange open workshop.