Poetry by Diane Funston

Molly Des Jardin CC




Motorcycle Man


Johnnie was in his fifties 
Lived a dozen houses down 
with his elderly mother 
He rode a green Indian motorcycle
with a big windshield 
up and down the street 
figure eights and donuts

A drinker by trade
his habitat a tan tarpapered cottage 
the front steps his watchtower 
Big bag of bottles 
and Drummer 
his beagle/shepherd mix
kept him company 

His mother made jam
from her berry bushes 
and home churned butter 
Toasted bread for us girls 
in the neighborhood 
We ate in her kitchen
watched her goldfish swim
in a fishbowl she tended 

After his mother passed 
he called out to us
twelve year olds
on our banana seat bikes
He’d sing old songs
A silly crooner
someone’s dad said
probably the one who
gave Johnnie his old Playboys 

After a few 40 ouncers
the singing stopped 
He’d call us
from the porch 
in a slurring baritone 
“got any hair on it yet”
“are you girls needing bras”
“come and give Drummer a hug”

Dee was our fearless leader 
a year older than the rest
she took his newest dare
“Come on inside I’ll show you 
something to surprise you “
We followed Dee inside
We didn’t want to be chicken 

The once tidy kitchen
was now dirty messy 
A couple goldfish
still swam in cloudy water  
Johnnie grabbed a fish
and swallowed it
alive and whole

We ran crying out the door 
He started singing again 
Saying he liked fresh fish
We never told anyone 
any of it 
EVER
We avoided riding 
past his place
if the motorcycle was there 
Everyone knew Johnnie
thought him an odd duck
felt sorry for him
because after all he was
just the harmless drunk





Diane Funston has been published in journals including Lake Affect, F(r)iction, Tule Review, Still Points Quarterly, among others. 
  
Diane served as Poet-in-Residence for Yuba-Sutter Arts and Culture.  Her chapbook, “Over the Falls” was published by Foothills Publishing. 

Diane is a visual artist in mosaic, collage, and felting. She has worked with adults and children with disabilities. After leaving hometown Rochester, New York, she lives in California with her husband and two rescue dogs. 




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