Here is a poem by Phil Estes that appears in Gem City/Fountain City. If you like this one, you should by your own copy of the chapbook.

Belgium, Belgium, Kansas City (Elegy to John Belushi)

by Phil Estes

Eric Idle tried to raise money

for England, but all he got was $20

on Saturday Night Live.

The queen looked young:

black hair, thin, nice skin.

Was that really the queen?

You beat Idle in the “World Heavywit Title”

contest on a pretty good joke—

Aykroyd called it a “My Wife

Combination, superbly executed”:

You know my wife

gained weight; the post office

gave her her own zip code.

Thank you.

My wife wears a coil.

Not only does it prevent

pregnancy, it does wonders

for my television reception.

Thank you.
Thank you.

About the “Community Appeal”

sketch with Fran Tarkenton.

Your mind was supposed

to be like Swiss cheese, or a cloud,

and you dressed like a boy scout.

But the Minnesota Vikings

and Community Appeal

were going to help you out anyway,

help you beat your habit.

With them you could see shadows,

and you memorized three countries.

Tell the audience the three countries you know John.

Belgium, Belgium, Kansas City.

Have you ever been here? I wonder

what you’d think of Westport

or the Bottoms. You didn’t look like a Plaza guy,

but that’s where the coke

would be. When they showed

you the script for Joy of Sex

you were supposed to be in a diaper.

Not only does it prevent

pregnancy, it does wonders

for my television reception.

Thank you.
Thank you.

When they had you on the slab

your arms looked like constellations.

The water here and Arthur Bryant’s

may have helped, and the air too.

The slowness of the city.

The post office

gave her her own zip code.

Thank you.

You could’ve slowed down here,

drank some beers on the porch.

Tell the audience the three countries you know John.

Belgium, Belgium, Kansas City.

Maybe it would be Len Dawson

not Fran Tarkenton.

You were thick

like I am thick.

But your hair

was full,

and you had Judith.

Belgium, Belgium, Kansas City (Elegy to John Belushi) first appeared in FRiGG.

Phil Estes maintains a blog at http://niceisaweapon.blogspot.com/