Crazy Concrete March 2015 | Page 13

How  to  Write  the  Great  Jersey  Poem     Start  in  the  meadowlands   or  the  Turnpike   or  on  the  Turnpike  driving     through  the  meadowlands     in  a  car,  a  fast  car     with  a  broken  muffler   and  faulty  air  conditioner.     Wind  up  down  the  shore   after  sundown     listening  to  a  bar  band   drinking  beer  in  a  plastic  cup.     Have  a  secret  rendezvous   with  a  beautiful  girl   or  boy  (your  choice)   Born  to  Run  plays  in  the  background   or  Sandy  or  My  Way…   anything  but  New  York  New  York.     Working  class  roots   must  be  explored  in  depth:   Factory  work,  waitressing   while  attending  state  college,   convenience  store  clerkery,     and  drunken  poetry  readings     in  extraterrestrial  bars   topics  worthy  of  consideration.     Wax  poetic  over  holiday  celebrations,     Fourth  of  July  fireworks,   suburban  Xmas  light  displays,     Thanksgiving  homecoming  games,   blaring  salsa  street  festivals   Memorial  parades  with  hobbled     13