Almanac of Illinois

In Illinois
there are no lakes
to make your young heart
angry.

In Illinois
there is no good or bad marijuana
and no masturbation hidden by
pinstriped overalls.

There are no old houses
restored right
for a good price.

There are no midwives.

There is no snow.

In Illinois
there are no greyhound buses,
no runaways,
and you can't paste porno magazines inside
your cupboards.

In Illinois
there are no cute boys
to kiss you well
and screw you like you
imagined it.

There are no hobos.

There are no hippies.

In Illinois
there are no cafes,
no bicycles,
and no cigarettes.

There are no third generation Lebanese.

In Illinois
you cannot sit in a defunct sauna
or learn to knit.

Neither can you find
the right shade
of red hair.

In Illinois
there are cracked stoops
upon which to growl
at the good things
that stole our hearts
in younger states.