Tintins
By Benne van der Velde
My lip is bleeding from a sudden crack.
There’s snow on the marble and cola awaits.
Anything but his, can’t help it and say
that there’s only molehills at grandmother’s head.
It looks like nan’s listening to everything said
about my dead aunt and comic books, yes
I wouldn’t come visit for anything less
mister Pastor, sir, she’d laugh and then stack
her Tintins again, ask for a kiss and—Crack.
Benne van der Velde is a successful Dutch poet. In everyday (some claim, real) life he worked as an industrial cleaner, in pest control, on a garbage truck, driving forklifts, at a chemical waste facility, on a ferry, and ten years as a bartender in a coffee shop. At the time of writing this resume he can be found at home or in the hospital battling throat cancer. He’s been off the Herb since 2008, has a wife, two dogs, mild anxiety issues, and likes to read every sci-fi and fantasy classic he can find. www.linkedin.com/in/benne-van-der-velde-8b17a7296