it feels like when people call me “sir” 
as in older than dirt 
the days 
my sinuses 
go all-out 
to convince me 
that my body’s been dragged through dirt 
and a garden’s 
thriving inside my head 

a chorus 
might as well belt out 
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 
“June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” 
from Carousel 

it’s only half-past May 
and dancers 
    men 
    in long-sleeved work shirts 
    sweaters 
    watch caps and dungarees 
    and women 
    in white aprons 
    and brightly-colored 
    long flowing puffed-sleeve dresses 
think my head is a yard house and pier 

they clamber 
and scamper behind my left eye 
toward the ramshackle 
edge 
of my last good nerve 
my skull a wooden plank 
buzzing 
from all the vibration 

I don’t even like Carousel 
except for the quiet 
lilting waltz 
I’ve been hooked on since I was a child  
not a kid 
when all the elementary school shit hit the fan 
but much younger 

the waltz was pretty 
and sounded like gentle smiles and happiness 
I kept it 
buried treasure 
deep inside my head 

it’s still there 

*This monoku by Jim Kacian is published in A Selection from NOON: journal of the short poem, Issues 1-7, 2004-2009, edited by Philip Rowland, and appears here with Kacian’s permission. Link confirmed on 3 August 2025:
https://noonpoetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/noon-sampler3.pdf

Bio: Jonathan Yungkans