Allan Lake – Cajun Mutt Press

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 01/26/24

January 26, 2024 James D. Casey IV

(in lieu of) World Peace

I’d lob more than a missive toward a country
of tyrants. Hell, I write expletives with indelible
pen on delivery vans that cut me off in traffic,
squash a spider that drops onto dusty desk.
Can’t call the cops or International Criminal
Court so let us call it Zen Revenge.
Rip the noxious weed from the soil, shoo
defecating pigeons from eaves, wipe shitty
shoes on neighbours’ welcome mat if
they fail to pick up after prized pooch.
World is going to the dogs, scammers,
warmongers and barking billionaires so
there can be no peace without retribution
and retribution starts at home. Try it.
It feels so good, so Greek myth,
so Old Testament (Samuel 1 15:3)
so Holy Land. Become proficient;
find yourself recommending it,
you Bad Influencer. Satisfying
opportunities abound for those
who are out of cheeks to turn,
are tired of feeling limp, who
live in silent outrage and just
need to savour getting even.
Controlled breathing is best,
plan ahead, stealth advised.

Allan Lake is a migrant poet from Allover, Canada who now lives in Allover, Australia. Coincidence. He has published poems in 20 different countries. His latest chapbook of poems, entitled ‘My Photos of Sicily’, was published by Ginninderra Press. It contains no photos, only poems.

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 01/13/23

January 13, 2023 James D. Casey IV

Lifeis(un)prettyrelentlessthennot

No point asking why a young man
(on bail) would hurl a chunk of concrete
through an open car window at someone
unknown to him. Why did Cain …?
Why did the chicken …?
Whether he meant to strike the head
of the pregnant woman is moot.
She’s dead now and so is the unchild
that never saw this wonderful world.
Perth is a small, quiet, capital city,
some might unkindly say, quite dead.
And all the justice in the huge state
of Western Australia just cannot undo
what’s been done or untangle why.

Allan Lake is a poet, originally from Allover, Canada, who now writes in Allover, Australia. Coincidence. His latest collection, published by Ginninderra Press, ‘My Photos of Sicily‘ contains no photos, only poems.

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 06/13/22

June 13, 2022 James D. Casey IV

Missive to Bob Dylan

After the once-in-a-decade electrical storm
with its flooding rains, much debris
accumulated in the park along the creek
so I ventured out, gloves on, plastic bag
in hand and a great song stuck in my head
that really started to grate.
I found many bits of cardboard and plastic
from a certain nearby fast ‘food’ outlet
and a folded scrap of windblown paper
with all the answers you were seeking
for so long, dear deserving Nobel laureate.

For men with use of two legs it’s 137 roads.
No mention of women or the disabled so
the answers must have been well back
in last century, like your song.
Lucky doves may nap after only 1 sea
of any size. Cannonballs won’t be banned
now that there are more effective options.
Mountain removal can take millions or
billions but with human-induced climate
change you can expect better results.
Some people, like incarcerated refugees,
for example, won’t be allowed to be free
anytime soon and clearly men who are not
guards can pretend not to notice indefinitely.
Answer to Question 7: Depends if man
is incarcerated with or without a skylight.
Question 8: just 1 but remove earbud,
which, like ears, generally come in pairs.
Just pause that life-changing podcast!
Final Question – considering eternal life
is not possible – is a stray goose to make
up the numbers if ever there was one.
There have been many but they often
end up inside a fox or quietly
steaming on a dining table.

Allan Lake, a stray from Allover, Canada, now writes poetry in Allover, Australia. Latest chapbook of poems, ‘My Photos of Sicily’, published by Ginninderra Press, 2020.