Public Republic

Kenneth Pobo

Photo: [nati]

Thirteen in October 1967, face
smeared with brown Clearasil to hide

popped pimples. Bullies gathered.
Jesus said He’d return one day
to avenge me. Too distant. The Family
had a hit single in Chicago,

“Face The Autumn.” How to face
Atutumn? Winter? Spring? Bullies,
birds surrounding the house
at the end of Hitchcock’s film

waited. I didn’t tell
my parents, feared they’d see me
as weak. The Family

had only one more single,
about going to San Francisco
to live as a hippy. That sounded good
to a crewcut kid in a Beatles era–

trapped kids
trapped other kids.