Protective Measures. by Todd Cirillo

The poet shuffled up

to the stage

and set up

his harp to begin

the reading

he leaned into the mic

and very softly 

mumbled

and gestured

first to the floor

then to the ceiling

to the left and right

and finally to us

towards the back.

It seemed he opened

with some sort of prayer

and now

he was asking 

if those of us

in the back 

could hear him clearly.

I nodded and gave a thumbs up,

pretending I could.

Todd Cirillo is co-founder and editor of Six Ft. Swells Press. His latest book is Burning the Evidence (Epic Rites Press, 2017). He has other books available and has been published in numerous national and international publications. Todd lives in New Orleans, Louisiana and can be found soaking his pirate heart in second lines and smiling under the neons searching for shiny moments. Look him up at Todd Cirillo

Todd Cirillo Poet Writer Editor Publisher Pirate

"The news is bad today, in America and for America. There is nothing good or hopeful about it--except for Nazis, warmongers, and rich greedheads" HST