Hal Olsen

By Michael Johnson

Even when old, he
wears a pumped-up grin,
wild as a possum’s.
So would you if you
had painted cuddly
buxom pinups on
a hundred bombers
during World War II.

— Michael Johnson is an English professor at Kansas University. Poet’s Showcase features work by area poets. Submit your poetry via e-mail with a subject line of Poet’s Showcase to mpaget@ljworld.com or send typewritten (not handwritten) submissions to Mindie Paget, 645 N.H., Lawrence 66044, attn: Poet’s Showcase. Teen writers should submit their work to the 18 & Under page at teens@ljworld.com.