John Short


LA CONCHA


The bank robber is a gentleman
raising a towel for his love to dress.
I wake some way down seashell beach
while Rick still snores behind me.

Bags rolled tight, we enter a bar,
slump on stools in a line, all four
staring at our reflections in the long
mirror behind the steel counter.

Jesus spreads arms wide over the bay
and we are down to our last pesetas
in this city of bombs and needles,
nervous police and general madness

but we possess a library of maxims:
distillations of road experience.
Reassure each other continuously
that something always turns up.




John Short's poetry is inspired by his years travelling in Europe and has appeared widely in the UKUSASpainFranceAustria and Ireland in magazines such as The Horror Zine, Yellow Mama, Lamplit Underground, Ghost City Review, Algebra of Owls and Envoi. In 2018 he was a Pushcart nominee and his pamphlet Unknown Territory will be published in 2020 by Black Light Engine Room (UK).

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The views and opinions expressed throughout belong to the individual artists and may or may not coincide with those of the other artists (or editors) represented within the magazine. Hobo Camp Review supports a free-for-all atmosphere of artistic expression, so enjoy the poetry, fiction, opinions, and artwork within, read with an open mind, and comment wisely. Thanks for stopping by the Camp!