John C. Mannone
Ode to a Necktie
Your silk touch
could soothe soft
as words that I’m
trying to say; smooth,
not ones that snag
like a cheap tie.
I rehearse the words
in front of the mirror
as I tie the Windsor,
perhaps the broad
symmetrical knot
will distract them
from my grimace
but it presses into
the lump in my throat.
I undo it; try again,
the length of the tie
must be perfect, its
triangle tip cutting
the buckle of my pants
in half. I am undone
walking into the cold
outside, into the stiff
breeze, but the black
tie looks good against
my starch-white shirt
and pallor of my face.
Now, I am ready too
to say those words
over your
grave.
John C. Mannone has work in Artemis Journal, Poetry South, Blue Fifth Review and others. He won the Jean Ritchie Fellowship in Appalachian literature (2017), served as Celebrity Judge for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (2018), and nominated for Pushcart, Rhysling, Dwarf Star and Best of the Net awards. He has three poetry collections and edits poetry for Abyss & Apex and other venues. He’s a retired physics professor in East Tennessee. He lives near Knoxville.