Alex S. Johnson is a contemporary poet whose work stands out for its experimental edge and fearless engagement with language. His poetry often blurs the boundary between the surreal and the visceral, combining vivid imagery with a rhythm that challenges conventional structures. Johnson’s style reflects a deep fascination with the darker and more chaotic aspects of existence, yet it is balanced by moments of sharp clarity and unexpected beauty. He frequently draws from cultural, artistic, and philosophical influences, weaving them into a tapestry of expression that feels both intellectual and rawly emotional.
One of the most striking aspects of Johnson’s poetry is his willingness to take risks—whether in form, diction, or theme. He explores subjects such as identity, transformation, decay, and the absurdity of human experience, pushing readers to reconsider their own assumptions about meaning and order. At the same time, his voice often carries a sense of playfulness, even in its darker moments, which creates a dynamic and engaging reading experience. Johnson’s poetry ultimately invites readers into a space where chaos and beauty coexist, offering a unique lens through which to experience the complexities of life, language, and imagination.Today we will read his poem.
Trouble is a Cat
by Alex S. Johnson
Dedicated to Nicole H.SixxTrouble walked into a bar
Click click click
Like neighbor's gossip, her
Stiletto heels hissed
Like cars in L.A. traffic
Like the breath of Autumn leaves
Life takes us
Down a peg
And we stare at the stars, they look like
Shattered knife
Points
That still hold
A glint of the faces of
Their
Victims
There's blood on the sun
Sometimes
And you know that
Augurs
Trouble
To some
To those who believe
Women are trouble
As a rule, and blood isn't life
But death
But like everything that courses
Through our green veins
That spills out in crimson sap
That sits like a spot of
Tabasco sauce on
Our
tongues
It's not one
It's both
It's two
not ones and zeroes
It's three
Not two
but it's one
Loving
cat...
Older now
Sitting with Mr. Bear
And curled in Nicole's lap
Trouble the cat
Is not trouble at all
He's there when she's sad
When she hits the wall
And no solutions
Can be distilled
With common chemistry
If her wish could be fulfilled
Trouble will be there
For her
As long as a cat's natural span
One divided by nine
Nine
Divided by
None
Three lives are one life
We're gone like the decay of a
Tuning fork
Like Winter's crystal fingers
Dissolved in the warm
Ear of the
Goddess
Trouble is a cat
Trouble is a cat
Trouble is Nicole's cat
And he's no trouble
No
He's no trouble
At all.
