Sheriff Abadaba and Deputy Fluff

(Nonsense poem: should be read out loud with gusto)

Cucamonga, there’s a brouhaha
in the Chimichonga Tavern, Abadaba.

Cut the hoopla, Fluff, and hand me my bazooka.
Let’s go to the:

CONGO ROOM
CONGO ROOM
CHIMICHONGA CONGO ROOM.

Gigolo Gumbo Kumquat,
miniature King Kong, squeezes
Porgy Doormouse.
Kewpie doll, shrieks Porgy.

VERITGO
WHERE’D HE GO?
VERITGO
WHERE’D HE GO?
VERTIGO

Ding dong, drop your long johns, Gigolo.
We’re puttin’ the patchwork panacea
on you, shouts the Sheriff.

Humbug, Abadaba.
You and that flea-flickin’ Fluff
can take this Doormouse and
shove him up your:

CONGO ROOM
CONGO ROOM
CHIMICHONGA CONGO ROOM.

—Lawrence Matsuda

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Lawrence Matsuda was born in the Minidoka, Idaho, Concentration Camp during World War II. His book of poetry, A Cold Wind from Idaho, was published by Black Lawrence Press (2010, New York). His poems appear in Ambush Review, Raven Chronicles, New Orleans Review, Floating Bridge Review, Cerise Press, Nostalgia Magazine, Plumepoetry, Malpais Review, Zero Ducats, Surviving Minidoka (book), Meet Me at Higos (book), Minidoka — An American Concentration Camp (book and photographs), Tidepools Magazine, Correspondencieas (book) and the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. His book, Glimpses of a Forever Foreigner, a collaboration between Matsuda and artist Roger Shimomura, was published in 2014. His graphic novels American Hero Shiro Kashino and Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers were published in 2015.

Published in Raven Chronicles Laugh. Laugh? Laugh!, Vol. 21, 2015.