"Me and Bobby McGee" • Janis Joplin (by Danielle McMahon)

i’d like to study you 

in stillness 

awhile

& tune in to 

your profile

your countenance 

the perfect 

impression of a 

scoundrel 

i can't help 

that my 

lecherous heart 

calls out 

always 

for more 

than it’s given 

which is why 

i prefer 

the violent femmes 

to zeppelin 

y’know someone 

told me 

once

that i’d have my own 

bobby mcgee 

if i could learn 

to tell 

the difference

between sweetness & 

calamity

a smile a bit 

like yours 

dashing

tacky

an invitation

to misadventure

& i can't help 

but think

if we could stay 

like this 

awhile

maybe

you could be

my bobby 

mcgee

the one

who wrecks me 

sweetly

Danielle McMahon is the author of four poetry chapbooks and two micro-chaps.  Most recently, her micro-chap “rowhouse song” is part of the 2025 Ghost City Press Summer Series.  Her chapbook “irl” is forthcoming from Stanchion Books in 2026.  Author website: d-mcmahon-writes.net.  Bluesky @dehm000.bsky.social.