Episode 02

We’re excited to share the latest conversation from The Buffalo Hive’s series “Our City Speaks: Buffalo Poets Connect” featuring Ben Brindise and Justin Karcher. 

Ben and Justin are the hosts of Caffe Aroma’s open mic series that happens every other Wednesday. 

Listen to the conversation to hear Ben and Justin talk about writing, sobriety, Buffalo and what it means to be in community with other writers. 

We also asked them to share each other’s favorite poem—read below to see what they picked!

By Justin Karcher: 

Literally Buffalove 

I was walking by this house at night 
and saw a couple slow dancing 
through the illuminated front window.

I tried not to stare but on the big TV
behind them, Johnny Rzeznik 
was getting baptized 

and I thought, you gotta be kidding me. 

Sure enough, I heard the faint sounds of “Iris” 
by the Goo Goo Dolls from that famous 
concert in the rain. And to tell you the truth 

I never wanted an angel more.

By Ben Brindise:

Dear Kia Boys

So, uh, hey. This is my car. Hope it smells alright.
I try to keep it pretty clean. If something’s off,

check the driver side cup holder. Sometimes
I leave my protein shake cup there. Pretty gross,

I know. I’m working on better habits. Anyway, thanks
for picking up this note. You didn’t have to. I appreciate

it. I left it on the dashboard because you’re going to do
what you’re going to do. I get it. I once jumped, drunk,

and hip-checked my ass through a parked car’s back
window. Everyone in every room everywhere has done

some fucked up shit and anyone saying they haven’t
is lying to you. I did what I was going to do. Like a freight train

whose brake mechanisms froze. The ones who got hurt most
were the ones right in front of me. I know what it’s like

to take my life into my hands and wield it like a club
at other people. I know the listless hunger of adolescence

and the lengths we go to fill it. Check the center console.
I left you all some Rice Krispie treats. You’ll make better

decisions on a full stomach. Has anyone been nice to you
today? What do you want to do with your life after?

Have you thought about after? Do you want to? Have you been
allowed? Well. Here. Now. In my Kia Forte, I give you permission.

Are you looking for a thrill? Turn to your fellow Kia boy
and ask him to describe the first time he thought he really was

a mistake and if he ever truly recovered from it. Note his face
and how it drops. Joyride the silence that blankets the inside

of my cheap upholstery. Turn the wheel into his quiet, open mouth
and fill it with marshmallows and rice. If you’re thirsty,

I left a twenty in the glove box. No one should ever have to tell
their story with a dry tongue. If you need speed, play chicken

with the emptiness you feel and see who deserves the space more:
you or it. It’s you. I promise. I want you to live through tonight.

There’s a million ways this could go wrong and the safest bad results
are the ones where all I get are an insurance bill. I don’t want to see

you get hurt. If you wonder if I mean that: remember, you’re stealing
my fucking car. Yeah, I mean it. Take the twenty. Go have fun with

your friends. Tell them about the cornball and his note. Ask them how
their day was. When they tell you to fuck off, ask them again. When

they tell you to be serious, tell them you are. Ask them why they’re
less comfortable opening up to you than opening up a stranger’s car.

There are no right answers here. Take care of yourself. Be safe. If no
one else has ever meant it, I do. And, oh, I work at 8am, so, if you do

take it, please be back and put it in the same spot by 7.

Thanks, Ben.