A deadly thing to holdCreation in a crucible of flesh.It burns, cramps. Its greatest touches,Softest kisses poison to the bloodAnd we never stop prying those Jaws wider, goingDeeper into life’s hot, white howlingUntil we forget the way back,That there is any way back,And that we could ever wantTo know a way back. Our children cry to nothing,Clutch empty hands. Them!They know nothing of hungerIts needs, … Continue reading Boomer by Leslie Young
I never felt my loneliness so clearly.–Frédéric Chopin, letter to Jan Matuszyński, 26 December 1830 1. You go to the supermarket late at night, not to buy something, but only to be around people. 2. You spend all afternoon listening to voice messages on your phone you haven’t deleted, messages from as far back as ten years ago, some from ex-girlfriends, others from now deceased friends. 3. … Continue reading Twelve Signs Your Loneliness Has Gone Too Far by E. P. Kataratos
Days may be shortDays may be longSome are steeped in wine and songClouds we chased ‘round river’s bendChildish wishes childhood friends June July August SeptemberDaydreams we shall long rememberGreen green grass the yawning lawn Soon Summer ends and I’ll be gone How quickly regret fades into forget How the sun rises how the sun sets Golden yellow azure blueSky that floats through me and youStars that come … Continue reading Summer’s End by Antonia Alexandra Klimenko
Her head presents large as a cabbagewhen I pluck her from my garden—stony ground all but bare after harvest.She looks the way I want to remember her—a salad—tulle of lettuce leaves pale as the embrace of her pea-pod green eyes.She demurs with a wilting expression.I add three cups of arugula, julienned cucumber,a handful of basil leaves, slice an avocado in halfand prise out the pit to … Continue reading Green Goddess Dressing by Dale Champlin
Dapping UpThe Corner.Homie In The Hood.Fixing Up His ShitWith Some Plastic Wood.StarbucksFor A Shower.Stay ThereFor An Hour.EverybodyNeeds ALittleIvory Tower.DialIt Up.SuperPower.Rock Tag.Nickel Bag.Zig Zag.It’s A Drag When You’re Busted By The Buyer.FortuneCookieYou’re ALiar.Check TheDate ThatYou Expire. Knee On Neck.Bounced Check.Pavement.Enslavement. Continue reading Bum Rap by Charlie Robert
Unshavena white-ribbed undershirtpeeks out from a maroonnylon button-downswirlingwith midnight blue paisleys The vacation shirtwe called itnow barely buttoned overhis atrophied framebubbling belly Brown polyester pants,loose-fitting, sag downlong beforeit became a fashionstatement His eyesformerly unfocusedcenter on mestalkingwith my new Polaroid I capture himpin him to place on a black backgroundand gently close the book That bean bag ashtrayred and black plaidpiled with Carlton buttsburns off his … Continue reading Uncle Lou by Diane Funston
She spent the last six years traveling light living out of bags she could grab and take with her any moment because chaos coursed through her bloodstream like lightning lethal if she ran far enough she could leave it behind and eventually transitioned to those plastic storage boxes from Walmart or Target or Wherever but they still weren’t permanent because she wasn’t permanent because people … Continue reading How to Kill a Vagabond by Madison Farquhar
She stands a beacon of resilience,with a smile that never faltereddespite twelve-hour shift fatigue a bright yellow caution sign proppedin a corner signals the warning,the canary in a poisoned minenearby a bucket sits abandonedmid-task, while children’s squealsbounce off play equipmentand registers whirl, machinery hissesand underpaid cashiers call “next” nearby plastic plants danglein front of wallpaper with fake brickspatrons slouch in molded plasticseats, eating from brown … Continue reading Dreams of a Fast Food Worker by Christina Pickard
Leather Chair.Free Cigar.PumpItUp.Avatar.Buzz Cut.Brylcreem.Hot Towel.Wet Dream.CloseQuarters.Close Shave.Like ThatTimeWeHitTheRave.Rode The Buzz.CaughtThe Wave.High Fives.Dead Flies.DottingThe Sills.Ex-Wives.Hands In The Till.PumpingAndSpinningThe Chair.Showing Their RedUnderwear. Barber Pole.Rock And Roll. Continue reading Clip Joint by Charlie Robert
Just like Apocalypse Now, heavy breath 1, 2, 3, controlled and focused.Descending steps sounding loud and crisp, only deep reflection floating on top.In the mind a painting appears, dark, mysterious.Black and Tan.Light too in the center.Don’t disturb this.A heavy white page is now turning.A story that reads front to back and back to front.No explanation or talking needed.Sudden revelations emerge but it’s too sudden and … Continue reading Apocalypse Now by Frankie Laufer
