William Doreski's collections of poetry include Waiting for the Angel (Pygmy Forest Press, 2009) and City of Palms (AA Publications, 2012). His poems have appeared in Notre Dame Review, Salzburg Review, Free Inquiry, Yale Review, and Ars Interpres. He teaches writing at Keene State College and lives in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
BLACK IN GRAY AMERICA
(in memory of Sam Cornish)
You recalled a city of stinks:
the shabby breath of yellow teeth,
filthy socks on crusty feet,
blood-spill dried on...