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
The cold of your breath doesn’t disturb meas I lie here all nightwhile your perfume passes through—incarnated to rock, sand and tide. I sing the song that used to fill youwith bliss, wrap you in white linenand carry you until you turn to frostset down gently between the flimsy craft’s gunnels.Now your flaming sails billow toward Valhalla.Your face has lost its deep grooves,smooth as tallow … Continue reading My Mother’s Ghost by Dale Champlin
after Benjamin Curtaz & Son,a painting by Joyce Savre I’m tired now,a little out of tune.Still upright, I waitfor fingers to curveover my keys, voicesto hum melodies. The fun we’ve had!The family, my family,gathered ‘round me—Joyce’s joints bangingout Christmas carols,a little ragtime, nurseryjams—maybe Chopin, maybeProkofiev. A child bounceson her lap, another standsnear, grips a cornerof my frame. Jim strums his guitar, modulates,harmonizes—tunes to the keyof … Continue reading Piano by Charlie Brice
At this age pulling down the sheetscan unfold an unbearable sadness. People you’ve known all your lifegive up on yousuddenlylike an ice storm that cancels spring. You’ve read the sutras,studied the dogma,lit the incense, watchedthe smoke waft away to nowhere. You’ve known all along about impermanence,but living it is another matter. You witness your wife hobble through herdays, each day a little less able, her … Continue reading At This Age by Charlie Brice
