National Poetry Month: Raymond Federman

For National Poetry Month, the Burchfield Penney will share a poem a day from Mortals & Immortals: Burchfield Penney Writers and Poets Series 35 Year Celebration. 

Buffalo? by Raymond Federman

Didn’t you used to live in Buffalo?
this guy asks me.

Buffalo! Where is that?

The guy looks puzzled.
He must think I am demented
or that I lost my memory.

Buffalo? Never heard of it, I say.
Where is it?

Well something extraordinary happened to me
today–it was around 2:00 in the afternoon–
I was on the golf course having a great round.
That’s where the guy asked me about Buffalo.
On the 18th tee.
Just when I was about to hit my drive.
I was 3 over par for 17 holes.

No idea why that guy asked that question.
I only know him from playing golf with him.
Once a week.
We really never talk about our lives
past or present.
We only talk about golf.
Or tell dirty jokes.
So why did he suddenly ask about Buffalo?
Maybe he had buffalo meat for lunch.

Or else he mistook the cows
grazing in the field
next to the golf course
for buffaloes.

Whatever the reason
doesn’t matter
because today
I erased from my memory
thirty-five years of Buffalo.
Yes the thirty-five fucking years
I spent in the snows of Buffalo.

Well, not really erased
but let’s say
rendered dormant
until needed.

That’s what happened today.
Buffalo went to sleep in me.

Don’t talk to me about Buffalo,
I told the guy, as I addressed
my ball on the par 5 18th
needing a par to break 80.

Mortals & Immortals is available in the Burchfield Penney Museum Store, online or by calling 716-878-3595.