Three Poems by Gary Grossman

 

 

Orphan 

 

Raised by my single 

Mom and her parents, 

I’ve been an orphan  

since they passed 

in the ‘70s, while 

  

Dad—a truant for every 

day of father-son school,  

knew me last as an  

embryo:  

 

anatomy teaches function 

does follow form.

 

 

Impulse Control II 

 

My impulse  

control is  

wavering like 

that last 

blush of 

flame from 

the ashes— 

please help 

me save  

myself.

 

 

The Price of Eggs 

after Woody Allen 

 

“Family is G-d’s way of keeping us humble” 

I like to say when asked about my relations. 

 

Missing Father, missing Mother, no siblings 

except some halves, one of whom thinks 

 

he’s a chicken. My therapist keep suggesting 

that I find him a good psychiatrist,  

 

but he has no job, and we need the eggs

 

Gary Grossman, Professor Emeritus of  Ecology, University of Georgia, has poems, short fiction and essays in 48 literary reviews. His work has been nominated for inclusion in The Best Small Fictions and Pushcart Prize for 2023. For 10 years Gary wrote “Ask Dr. Trout” for American Angler Magazine. Gary’s poetry books Lyrical Years (2023, Kelsay), What I Meant to Say Was… (2023, Impspired Press), and graphic memoir My Life in Fish—One Scientist’s Journey…(2023, Impspired) all available from Amazon or the author.