The Voice of America

A voice comes from somewhere behind me, thin and wispy, calling me by the wrong name. When I turn around, the leaves are quivering with conflicting emotions. Anyone I tell says I need to get a better attitude – or go die. But who doesn’t have qualms when they stick a key in the door? It’s not true that there’s no penalty for trying. Sometimes I have to be rescued. Other times I remove the rope from around my neck myself.

Howie Good, a journalism professor at SUNY New Paltz, is the author of fivepoetry collections, most recently Cryptic Endearments from Knives Forks & Spoons Press. He has had numerous chapbooks, including Elephant Gun from
Dog on a Chain Press, Strange Roads from Puddles of Sky Press, and Death of Me from Pig Ear Press. His poetry has been nominated multiple times for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net anthology. He blogs at
http://apocalypsemambo.blogspot.com.