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      October 1, 2015To the Man About to Put the Lampshade on His HeadKen Wagner

      it’s not funny
       
      no matter how much scotch we drink
       
      it’s not funny
       
      the only way you can top yourself at the next party 
      is to enter in a floral print dress   lipstick   and heels
      and that’s even more not funny than the lampshade
       
      so as you finger the fringe on the shade of the table lamp
      mustering the courage or more likely squelching your dignity
      let us follow the natural progression of your un-comedic arc
       
      you will don the lampshade and say   I feel lightheaded
      followed by   Get it   Get it
       
      and then a limerick about the man off the coast of Cape Cod
      which we’ve all heard a thousand times before 
      but some of the men will make the mistake
      of giving you an obligatory chuckle
       
      which will only make you try harder
      which is even more less funny
       
      then all the women will turn away   and in sync roll their eyes
      your wife will leave the room and the men will fan away saying   
      Classic you
       
      when your wife returns with your coat on her arm
      she’ll jingle the keys at you and say   Roger   Come
       
      and you’ll sheepishly walk to the door
      keeping the lampshade on as you wave goodbye
       
      and all the men will bend slightly in sympathy pain
      and all the women will start to clean up the bar

      from #48 - Summer 2015

      Ken Wagner

      “I’ve stumbled through life as a great gawker of odd little moments. Moments mostly comprised of my own foolishness or my perception of someone else’s embarrassment. While amusing, I always wondered what they were good for. I found Hoagland and Olds, Kooser, and read all of Wagoner and the other masters, which helped me understand those moments presented to me were possible poems knocking at my door.”