tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84672201263451973812024-03-28T20:29:53.211-07:00The Rye Whiskey Review We're the Ezine dedicated to all things barroom.
We are slightly off what others consider the norm and always the last to close the bar.
If you prefer the local dive bar to the glitz of some overpriced club then you're our kind of people.
So welcome grab a drink and enjoy. The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.comBlogger2180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-20638426909864727052024-03-28T09:59:00.000-07:002024-03-28T09:59:40.882-07:00On Tuesday There Was a Point When Bourbon Seemed Like a Good Breakfast Food By jim bourey<p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That was when morning newscasters started their phony emoting</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">about the cargo ship disaster at the Key Bridge. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The day before, it was more political insanity and human </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">trafficking. Sunday, they spoke about mourning for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">those people slaughtered by terrorists at a progressive</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">rock show playing in a Moscow theater.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hard to write a pensive, idyllic poem</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">when all those sad and frightening noises </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">pour into my quiet corner. So I dig</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">around for a sweet memory, the distraction</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of a song, the “remember when” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that might have been</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">real for a moment or two. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Usually I can find something </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to cue up laughter or calmness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today it’s not working.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s not working at all.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And it’s time for breakfast.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WBKKLkXbQ5VolmJCAJfryk6MptigVKLq_JZRXNNsW5Dz1l8fKQR4x-2jwCkh9SFwxVLfJhfui4uqeXxJpM6h3diWZ9-deLvtaqZVS2wQ-9aNokzowksDONXWNW0nQGt6_5vmPdYj0BQ44ChJOOu1Av8BooP_KVTzfV-o7wvu0cd-U6FgBsgtVRJmFI5j/s328/Capture+_2018-06-26-07-21-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="328" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WBKKLkXbQ5VolmJCAJfryk6MptigVKLq_JZRXNNsW5Dz1l8fKQR4x-2jwCkh9SFwxVLfJhfui4uqeXxJpM6h3diWZ9-deLvtaqZVS2wQ-9aNokzowksDONXWNW0nQGt6_5vmPdYj0BQ44ChJOOu1Av8BooP_KVTzfV-o7wvu0cd-U6FgBsgtVRJmFI5j/s320/Capture+_2018-06-26-07-21-16.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br id="docs-internal-guid-84b9c583-7fff-7ce2-6aa5-175384768d7f" /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">jim bourey is a poet from the Adirondacks in NY. He’s the author of three poetry books including </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Out There and Back Again</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (Cold River Press, 2023), </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Distance Between Us </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(Cold River Press, 2020), and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Silence, Interrupted</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (Broadkill River Press, 2015). He is co-author with Linda Blaskey of </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Season of Harvest</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (Pond Road Press, 2022). His work has appeared in numerous journals in print and online. Many of his poems have also appeared in a variety of anthologies. He currently runs a poetry reading series in Malone, NY. He is an associate editor at The Broadkill Review.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-65292820399716260702024-03-27T08:55:00.000-07:002024-03-27T08:55:17.940-07:00 A Suburb of Myself By Dan Provost <p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: "times new roman", "new york", times, serif;">I failed the beer philosophy of</span></span></p><pre style="text-wrap: wrap;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: medium;">hidden pain, tried to twist tears with
artistic motivation---
Exchanged drinking rights
for lawnmower chores and paper
hats that were worn during Christmas.</span></pre><pre style="text-wrap: wrap;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></pre><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlbifVrhtJ-RwTrehHtEfGEMgJuf96EnH4hpMi-u1m0tqWRYxMO0TUO93C93iOufnZm_FeFvnwY_FXJc3uW2lTLim_LKFfx9fG3uiskl__A-VynqsIR4v5XD5GZtKHiX8r9H0l_JQuCpfPwmDz3h3CZL0P7nKYdT-keurHAr-1UuFUPHJJHLhPqD8n7Rj/s259/image1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlbifVrhtJ-RwTrehHtEfGEMgJuf96EnH4hpMi-u1m0tqWRYxMO0TUO93C93iOufnZm_FeFvnwY_FXJc3uW2lTLim_LKFfx9fG3uiskl__A-VynqsIR4v5XD5GZtKHiX8r9H0l_JQuCpfPwmDz3h3CZL0P7nKYdT-keurHAr-1UuFUPHJJHLhPqD8n7Rj/s1600/image1.png" width="259" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br />Dan Provost's poetry has been published throughout the small press for a number of years. Some recent publications include: Ariel Chart, Poetical Review, Merak Magazine, Oddball Magazine, Deuce Coupe, Misfit Magazine, the Rye Whiskey Review, Cajun Mutt Press and the Dope Fiend Daily. He has two books coming out in 2020. Under the Influence of Nothingness by Kung Fu Treachery Press and Rattle of a Realizer, published by Whiskey City Press. He lives in Berlin, New Hampshire with his wife Laura and dog Bella.</span><br /><br />The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-57345633306462133162024-03-26T13:21:00.000-07:002024-03-26T13:21:25.401-07:00Flashbacks By Jonathan Butcher<p><br /></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This mirror of time, which casts</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">unfair reflections. sees your face now </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">aged but without the shadows</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">of toil, refusing to glance forward.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A slight flash of memory, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">like misplaced lightning suddenly </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">reminds me of why this would be</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">the case.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Then in the same breath, this pub</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">reveals yet further flashbacks;</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">a conversation picked up two</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">decades later, your stance</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">at the bar still with false pretension,</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">but now without the same flair </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">we remember; any grace left behind years ago. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The drinks thankfully mask </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">this irritating nostalgia, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">like trinkets once linked to pleasure </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">discarded in city alleyways, now </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">just an empty shell of what they once </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">offered. I slowly sink back into the here</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">and now, reminding myself of the benefit</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">of hindsight. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIw_-KsLS0kbCcxSQPs-q3LVk-I8t1pa-ht68kzxQ8pfEt3fqVtck7pCnbYZ5WKCnOlAxMvi9Q4CCXikeDSrJov0OMnDw1apGDTW9qMO2WGez6-wevdh0rYf984wE7x0WmeDmGOb60P9iZiCpnEPPN_YnHbz22y3Pp4nhcFStZzI4XO-4TFje1HQiB_eHc/s483/1711484305467_1711484304281_1711484286810_1711484284410_Poetry%20Submission..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIw_-KsLS0kbCcxSQPs-q3LVk-I8t1pa-ht68kzxQ8pfEt3fqVtck7pCnbYZ5WKCnOlAxMvi9Q4CCXikeDSrJov0OMnDw1apGDTW9qMO2WGez6-wevdh0rYf984wE7x0WmeDmGOb60P9iZiCpnEPPN_YnHbz22y3Pp4nhcFStZzI4XO-4TFje1HQiB_eHc/s320/1711484305467_1711484304281_1711484286810_1711484284410_Poetry%20Submission..jpg" width="311" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jonathan Butcher has had poems appear in various print and online publications including, The Morning Star, Mad Swirl, Drunk Monkeys, The Abyss, Cajun Mutt Press and others. His fourth chapbook, 'Turpentine' was published by Alien Buddha Press.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He is also the editor of online poetry journal Fixator Press. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-50273477543282119632024-03-25T09:23:00.000-07:002024-03-25T09:48:21.285-07:00When You Fall By Skaja Evens <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You never know how you’ll break</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A million tiny pieces, perhaps</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Microscopic</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Invisible glass</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Crumpled</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Impossible to repair</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Or,</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In shards, large</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jagged</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Vicious</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Resilient</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Incompletely mended</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In either case</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Parts of you are lost</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You’re never the same</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYkt-45UHqwZE7hFHGjVJr3PI5ri2LoRrljipOQFPPB1jK8551gc_RbEtP_LsY7IbnQymK6oVeMdQ18h3RC2ID7lOP3nHQjDlTEilg5MM84hzdoPSyCu2WWsLu-nir2vrJ5UpeHTDHyTJ8aSsTfL5254wG6E-vsUSxvWDtJCJ2nCW_AvWPdTNalN-oEP4/s2016/sve%20author%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYkt-45UHqwZE7hFHGjVJr3PI5ri2LoRrljipOQFPPB1jK8551gc_RbEtP_LsY7IbnQymK6oVeMdQ18h3RC2ID7lOP3nHQjDlTEilg5MM84hzdoPSyCu2WWsLu-nir2vrJ5UpeHTDHyTJ8aSsTfL5254wG6E-vsUSxvWDtJCJ2nCW_AvWPdTNalN-oEP4/s320/sve%20author%20photo.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="mail-message-content collapsible zoom-normal mail-show-images" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin: 16px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; user-select: auto; width: 380px;"><div class="clear"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span id="m_2881638013404113850gmail-docs-internal-guid-225448ce-7fff-90e1-a091-c2059fa55d5c"><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Skaja Evens is a writer and artist living in Southeast Virginia. Publication credits include Spillwords Press, Medusa’s Kitchen, Ink Pantry, Off the Coast, The Crossroads Lit Magazine, The Dope Fiend Daily, Synchronized Chaos, and Blue Pepper. Her first book, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">conscientia veritatis</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, is forthcoming from Whiskey City Press.</span></span><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-74992710376752142072024-03-24T07:02:00.000-07:002024-03-24T07:02:20.181-07:00ATOMIC GRAFFITI By Glenn Armstrong<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You could do worse than shoveling shit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in a Kentucky stable where stud horses </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dream of the cheering race day crowd. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Who’s to say the guy who works third</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shift at ampm is less than the CEO</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of fill-in-the-blank corporation? I recall</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">turning knobs as a night watchman, trying</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to stay awake. Nothing ever happened.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">They might as well have put a cardboard</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">cutout of me there. I could have been </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dreaming about fucking in an atomic bomb</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">glow; both getting vaporized near the base,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">whether or not the U.S. retaliated; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">leaving dark shadows on the ruined wall.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZGfatJcNBP6-1_0UkkzRPmd_2nxmk_sWPMIqgNkBZwWcPdxDuKmgSA4_F15wj7I8jqhhpE-MAhK21ncqBU1s4L4VvIGcosYKAagn7b2G5InrnUMjfzFwgQVOG87xgSgfTD50lXgNGc05ky3vcZObRGYpNKdoow8H4X8u0hyphenhyphen8KM9wiDj9jb3Z-ck2NpfW/s1920/GJA%203.5.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZGfatJcNBP6-1_0UkkzRPmd_2nxmk_sWPMIqgNkBZwWcPdxDuKmgSA4_F15wj7I8jqhhpE-MAhK21ncqBU1s4L4VvIGcosYKAagn7b2G5InrnUMjfzFwgQVOG87xgSgfTD50lXgNGc05ky3vcZObRGYpNKdoow8H4X8u0hyphenhyphen8KM9wiDj9jb3Z-ck2NpfW/s320/GJA%203.5.24.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glenn Armstrong was an '80s NYC club kid. Foundational music from the Ramones to P-Funk informs his poetry. His work has appeared in </span><i style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Beatnik Cowboy,</i><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rye Whiskey Review</i><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and others. He lives in San Diego.</span></span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-84812801465462797022024-03-22T17:22:00.000-07:002024-03-22T17:22:07.150-07:00meditation By Scott Ferry<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">here is a bag of giant asian wasps<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i have to put it over my head<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">how do i feel about it?<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i can pretend they are not wasps<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but winged angels and that each searing sting<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is an exquisite epiphany<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i can be excited about pain<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">because it feels stronger than<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">anything else<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and i can learn to breathe through it<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to go into a bliss compartment<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i have dug in my reptilian brain<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">here i have already died<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and am drifting in absinthe<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and chloroform<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">buddha sits next to me<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">chewing on a live electrical wire<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and laughing between shocks<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the sky is clear today<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i can see through the imaginary bag<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and the imaginary coral-jawed hornets<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">my body created as an agony container<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">wherein i can decide to respond to<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">noxious stimuli<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i have decided to be free<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but like the buddha my body still jolts<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and i curse while weeping in joy<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">here is a muzzle of ordinary discontent<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">here is a boat and a flamethrower<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">here is a clear view of nothing<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i kiss each sin with swollen lips<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">i sing the murder to sleep<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with a prayer<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPz6YEHhLgMUBT_9Ot6hROB1FTHmVeYw7PPDTjFpIe5Xy08UGjjhiw5JBUJzlSCfvvO6slgylIEd59XJHskM9e2bYssuIx9fXDdA3yGm2Mwxeasw3lP1D6eQxBx3yyLqndiayJyJYxUqff2iNj8OCxnXepH6QV8fcQ17FqeLNLjJbNN1sbnGyzFo7TG46/s2048/IMG_20181215_140237%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPz6YEHhLgMUBT_9Ot6hROB1FTHmVeYw7PPDTjFpIe5Xy08UGjjhiw5JBUJzlSCfvvO6slgylIEd59XJHskM9e2bYssuIx9fXDdA3yGm2Mwxeasw3lP1D6eQxBx3yyLqndiayJyJYxUqff2iNj8OCxnXepH6QV8fcQ17FqeLNLjJbNN1sbnGyzFo7TG46/s320/IMG_20181215_140237%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Scott Ferry helps our Veterans heal as a RN in the Seattle area. His most recent book is a collaboration with Daniel McGinn titled <i>Fill Me With Birds</i> on Meat for Tea Press. His tenth book of poetry, <i>Sapphires on the Graves</i>, is upcoming from Glass Lyre Press in early Summer 2024. More can be found at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ferrypoetry.com&source=gmail&ust=1711145737374000&usg=AOvVaw2hgn6Omlg_gdXLyccrnCc8" href="http://ferrypoetry.com/" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">ferrypoetry.com</a>.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> </span></p>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-51459659074369966282024-03-21T10:01:00.000-07:002024-03-21T10:01:26.160-07:00 A Night Out By B. Lynne Zika<p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What do you mean we can’t go to your place?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He turned off the ignition</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and left his hands on the wheel.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hell, he didn’t have a place we could go, either.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It was the parking lot or nothing,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and I’d waited too many months for nothing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Divorce can leave a woman on the prowl.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’d dressed carefully, soaking first</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in a hot bath with sesame oil,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">legs and underarms shaved silky smooth,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">long hair shining, and a dress</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">which whispered sexy but didn’t scream.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Eyelids lined and shadowed sultry.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lips plump and moist.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It was the first time</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’d ever been in a bar alone.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He got down to business</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">right there in the front seat,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the lights of the parking lot</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">casting shadows in a grim film noir.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Twenty-eight years old, two kids,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and starting life over… like this?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He paused and peered down at me. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Say,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">how old are you, anyway?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and I needed someone so much,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">needed someone too much,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to shove him off, smile, and say,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hey, handsome, fuck off and die.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96HuBU5mXAnrLk9HH-WRfSFE2cJpeDWf3_T7U4tHam27k_Jaf3DDdtm2IZNi9S7SNTw3JdtfHjXYHA2c8mEq8IAkaEkIgHog9l4j0YPpICTcfEpk42iDcy6Sb6qooG6g0n8LaYIZeMgjj5J1MWS594kOUPMsfdEEJGg3uFnkyXwj-8tcuGrmT9rVjVCku/s960/IMG_1342.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="958" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96HuBU5mXAnrLk9HH-WRfSFE2cJpeDWf3_T7U4tHam27k_Jaf3DDdtm2IZNi9S7SNTw3JdtfHjXYHA2c8mEq8IAkaEkIgHog9l4j0YPpICTcfEpk42iDcy6Sb6qooG6g0n8LaYIZeMgjj5J1MWS594kOUPMsfdEEJGg3uFnkyXwj-8tcuGrmT9rVjVCku/w318-h320/IMG_1342.JPG" width="318" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">B. Lynne Zika </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is a poet, essayist, photographer, and fiction writer currently living in Los Angeles. Her books </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Strange Case of Eddy Whitfield</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Longing,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Letters to Sappho: Putting Out the Fire</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> are available on Amazon and through other booksellers. In addition to editing poetry and nonfiction, she worked as a closed-captioning editor for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. She has received awards in short fiction, poetry, and photography. Her father, Yewell C. Lybrand, Jr., was a writer himself. Before his death at 36, he bequeathed her this wisdom and mission for a lifetime: Make every word count.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-60153057499377775642024-03-20T10:03:00.000-07:002024-03-20T12:35:45.622-07:00Making Stars By Susan Isla Tepper<p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Losing my bearings</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">along the way</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I found you floating</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in a filament sky—</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">its tendrils and the </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">clouds breathing life</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">into making stars—</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not even a mouse </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">could be quieter.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And you, out there</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">seemingly content, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">while my struggles </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with strands </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in the atmosphere—</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a daily occurrence— </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was unsuited, you see.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Defined by wild wisteria & </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">shouted misgivings—</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So loud, my head loosened.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_7zRYuQ9HY1Ope-RH9s0kJmK6xfUuL0zDk1E66qV4BViSCeWKF8te1jgUU6UNq08cHYXsqPzz0HpoKLlOUzJi_JrS5XBlq4k8ef0n7vGHpixyEq4j2VKx8SkoKx2coEabgs8JvtJE5pWWtMdZ8I3xuuwdg5wNUDmp12tzQeGfKuRDYFrE9i-zJe3yLXA/s355/Susan%20Tepper%20for%20Inquiring%20Minds%20Bookstore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_7zRYuQ9HY1Ope-RH9s0kJmK6xfUuL0zDk1E66qV4BViSCeWKF8te1jgUU6UNq08cHYXsqPzz0HpoKLlOUzJi_JrS5XBlq4k8ef0n7vGHpixyEq4j2VKx8SkoKx2coEabgs8JvtJE5pWWtMdZ8I3xuuwdg5wNUDmp12tzQeGfKuRDYFrE9i-zJe3yLXA/w320-h320/Susan%20Tepper%20for%20Inquiring%20Minds%20Bookstore.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Susan Isla Tepper is a twenty year writer in all genres. Her stage play "Crooked Heart" will be featured in Origin Theatre Company 'May Play Festival', NYC.</span></span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-53007763548851092772024-03-19T13:25:00.000-07:002024-03-19T13:25:53.002-07:00Drunk at the Vatican By John Drudge <p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-1390e215-7fff-a303-6f18-9bbea98e09a6" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Under a Baroque stare</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lost in a rapture</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In Vatican square </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Off the pedestal</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And hunting down truth</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Snatching eternity</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From the hands</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of the sinister</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Blurring the lines</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Between art and reality</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Architecture and paintings</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sculpture and music</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Everything all at once</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In a frantic dance </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of redemption </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Like being hit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">With the kitchen sink</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the name of the father</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And the son</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And the spirit of the ghost</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJaApkol9vARZs94_FLkE5Pc_-3PXK5pnzviaLpnEDMPHI2_XakEeM1uRevSKJHpEqDKIVWDrkvN8BwNLfmZiUFOJ-ALw_1n7VOKj-YzjUaKNI8gXOKNe1Bbrfzf9D9VSFukM_mqPoE-J3rRcttbIycRh6Db5JGHD4QT75BtUbBAtTHHf0tiCgO6yz4uW/s480/IMG_1879.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="480" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJaApkol9vARZs94_FLkE5Pc_-3PXK5pnzviaLpnEDMPHI2_XakEeM1uRevSKJHpEqDKIVWDrkvN8BwNLfmZiUFOJ-ALw_1n7VOKj-YzjUaKNI8gXOKNe1Bbrfzf9D9VSFukM_mqPoE-J3rRcttbIycRh6Db5JGHD4QT75BtUbBAtTHHf0tiCgO6yz4uW/s320/IMG_1879.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><p></p><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; white-space-collapse: collapse;">John is a social worker working in the field of disability management and holds degrees in social work, rehabilitation services, and psychology. He is the author of five books of poetry: “March” (2019), “The Seasons of Us” (2019), New Days (2020), Fragments (2021), and A Long Walk (2023). His work has appeared widely in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies internationally. John is also a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee and lives in Caledon Ontario, Canada with his wife and two children.</span></span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-6507144618801693292024-03-18T07:03:00.000-07:002024-03-18T07:03:10.548-07:00Beer By Bruce Morton <div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why is it people do not cry</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In their negroni or martini</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they do in their beer? Beer, </span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In its simplicity, in its complexity,</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Begs to be understood. It is like</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A relationship in this respect.</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Too long contemplated it will go</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flat, its effervescence spent.</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And of course, it need not be</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stirred or shaken. A sip, a swallow, </span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A toast—see it drunk before it looses </span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Its head. Because when the glass </span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is empty, there may or may not be </span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">More on tap. No draw, no pour.</span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhEpmkM_oSWAhjOTOOpdPehpVCDr2ti5BSHrmb2WS5A1IYstgQ6fVAVukh_QswK6US4rjfG_OrdEMxfoD5S7t5W4EXJpqZpeiQAwvJncovTQhpdXoXdx25pEZQ3TpLUOkLctbjObnjusyM8l-Lmi3fHGfZXG3bUkbkiQZA7t62UcWhPejWwWvy_vuTMy5/s640/mbVSxdc-4!largestimage%20MaxSize=ImageSize5K.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhEpmkM_oSWAhjOTOOpdPehpVCDr2ti5BSHrmb2WS5A1IYstgQ6fVAVukh_QswK6US4rjfG_OrdEMxfoD5S7t5W4EXJpqZpeiQAwvJncovTQhpdXoXdx25pEZQ3TpLUOkLctbjObnjusyM8l-Lmi3fHGfZXG3bUkbkiQZA7t62UcWhPejWwWvy_vuTMy5/s320/mbVSxdc-4!largestimage%20MaxSize=ImageSize5K.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bruce Morton divides his time between Montana and Arizona.</span></span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-73335405954070612512024-03-16T08:54:00.000-07:002024-03-16T08:54:27.909-07:00DRUNK CHILDISH BABY By Bradford Middleton<p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I sit here knowing what I want</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But in a slight predicament as to how</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To get there; you see, this morning</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I went out to buy a new pair of trainers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Just something to knock about it when</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Not at work. I went in several places, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Left empty-handed after finding nothing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Worst of all after visiting all these damn</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Places I found myself outside a bookshop</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Walked in, up the stairs and found</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A beautiful childish poetry book that I</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Had to get leaving me with no money</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For those new trainers and now no</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Way to get to the pub unless I wear</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">My ‘shop shoes’ as there is no other</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Alternative. My trainers are falling</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To pieces and the clouds outside</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Suggest it may rain sometime soon </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Knowing my luck before I get to come home</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nicely drunk and ready to sleep a good night for</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Once, just like the drunk childish baby I dream of being.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3kcqiQ0N-XKDPbmR6DmXV1wGFe0zCDiexuZW27D_8naZlwc7EEXqibbJ663TSETHkuDMZ4c09MPIvZCYElTxdcdUK0129n4rwuaNQFj-kkPmWw-77_6ZXLlSKibLKF9tVqvFdULo1zRR5oG1lU_QDHkPwj-cvN1vUxzxIjaiM6wVyIutdGH_g84aZx3i/s1364/WP_20160429_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1097" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3kcqiQ0N-XKDPbmR6DmXV1wGFe0zCDiexuZW27D_8naZlwc7EEXqibbJ663TSETHkuDMZ4c09MPIvZCYElTxdcdUK0129n4rwuaNQFj-kkPmWw-77_6ZXLlSKibLKF9tVqvFdULo1zRR5oG1lU_QDHkPwj-cvN1vUxzxIjaiM6wVyIutdGH_g84aZx3i/s320/WP_20160429_005.jpg" width="257" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-1853f3b1-7fff-59fe-8b9a-734ac191aa55" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bradford Middleton still lives in Brighton, UK but has recently landed a new job that he doesn’t hate so maybe here for a bit longer yet… Recent poems appear in </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Beatnik Cowboy</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">River Dog Zine</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Back Room Poetry </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">‘Rebel’ Anthology, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stink Eye Magazine</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dreich</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. His most recent chapbook was published early 2023 by those fine folks at the Alien Buddha Press. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-57735773589173667282024-03-15T09:07:00.000-07:002024-03-15T09:07:57.313-07:00One Night In A Big City, Not My Own By Trish Saunders <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Just as we’re licking the last salt from our glasses, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">pushing depleted plates away, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">she approaches, looking young </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">and shy, as she extends her arm</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">with a spotless white cuff</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">and my Visa card</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">between two fingers.</span></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">She hesitates. </span></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Just give me a little blue to fly toward, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Lord, all I ask is to turn back the hours</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">to our hotel, miles from here-- </span></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Did I grab the good Visa? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">or the one we reported</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">stolen, later found </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">under a towel </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">and never unblocked?</span></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">It will surely decline to sign for drinks,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">dinner, more drinks, tax and tip.</span></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">She smiles, uncertainly. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Something crashes in the kitchen.</span></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">How far away my home seems, how very far away.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x8NHEfVB-i8HEBqzGBiAUvghlpik3CSJzfaq7pFxKTApeN8WSMjuSeW_-KGV_SsaOXjH2hjNNNu_oYqmbZgsJSYRLApSiWWZzJsn6GkPNPvFdcOCnmA2iX142s6hMEo29G-CDTZnclhDNsMx6CmwsOpPCXyZbQ3dzqFvk68USMlHNOTeGT4GVM2YOXmr/s1288/trish%20saunders%20photo%20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="966" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x8NHEfVB-i8HEBqzGBiAUvghlpik3CSJzfaq7pFxKTApeN8WSMjuSeW_-KGV_SsaOXjH2hjNNNu_oYqmbZgsJSYRLApSiWWZzJsn6GkPNPvFdcOCnmA2iX142s6hMEo29G-CDTZnclhDNsMx6CmwsOpPCXyZbQ3dzqFvk68USMlHNOTeGT4GVM2YOXmr/s320/trish%20saunders%20photo%20.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></p><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Trish Saunders writes poems and short fiction from Seattle and imagines herself on the shores of Crescent Lake. Her favorite published places are The Fat Girls Review, Pacifica Poetry, the American Journal of Poetry, Punk Noir Magazine, and the Rye Whiskey Review.</span></span></p>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-24862560085331114812024-03-14T07:44:00.000-07:002024-03-14T07:44:23.912-07:00Days By David Painter<p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">It makes no difference as I unscrewed the cap.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">It could be Monday for all I care</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">I watched the amber liquid fall</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">and kiss the ice in the bottom of the glass</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">clacking some with its sudden warmth.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Looking down I thought is two fingers enough?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">My mind shot back the answer as I</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">continued to pour.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">It is early morning, but already it’s hot.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Most days start like this,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">even the sun makes a bee-line for the ice</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">no drought to cool itself off.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">I pour another hoping that</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">this one will last longer.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">The mailman drops off the mail</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">a few read, past due, then he</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">melts into the heat of the day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Sitting on the front porch even the</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">occasional breeze is warm.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">I pour another just to cool off.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">So it goes most days,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">the sun eating my ice</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: baseline;">and me trying to stay ahead of it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44AsRnYuZp7NHSWSwId6plNbVlFjE20FwL2iENnChXutezNB4JurRfplR0nk7pKqz3aC6dZfuKaC6-pnZBVjorysQYKgWUDqKcNWo8ezIdeTpvKC0A2VWQZzxPz8mvtDr13ocAllEjNaqRdMyENapyLCFMUAAwWtEWKAxWfo6nbPQ0nbmljyqjjsh711y/s4032/IMG_3797%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44AsRnYuZp7NHSWSwId6plNbVlFjE20FwL2iENnChXutezNB4JurRfplR0nk7pKqz3aC6dZfuKaC6-pnZBVjorysQYKgWUDqKcNWo8ezIdeTpvKC0A2VWQZzxPz8mvtDr13ocAllEjNaqRdMyENapyLCFMUAAwWtEWKAxWfo6nbPQ0nbmljyqjjsh711y/s320/IMG_3797%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-bba82a7e-7fff-0bdf-d0d6-54bad4de553e" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">David is an International published poet.He is a member of the Inner city writers’ group and penned in the city.His works have been published in Sweetycat Press,Piker press, Rye Whiskey Review,Clarendon House, Spillwords Press,The Writers’ Club,and Dyst Literary Journal.as well as The World of Myth,Every Writer,Ohio Bards and Academy of the Heart. He is a member of Ohio Writers Group and West Virginia Writers Group. His book of poems </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thoughts Alone the Way</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is available on Amazon </span></span></p></div><div><br /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-29494366378761450042024-03-13T09:17:00.000-07:002024-03-13T09:17:09.069-07:00Sometimes I Feel It. By Jonathan S Baker <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That moment between </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">confidence and drunkenness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that feels like bravado.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is there that I think</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I see my father</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and that place</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">frightens me</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">because it feels like home.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOhLnNm7YxnGLJ50hC6Hb5JslQSKEXlPSMn7f06isNKr8hA_aQNgnO5AfRmDZw0UQayKPt6Sa4sdDgqRI-5FOCI6sYogk2JdCdWfOAwWCTiiidFYIJhbZqa3eIgjXqJfEoqZmUcls8M5LK4pxkolm01ZjOC8XMfEAJENnPGCxrsjiqTz5aBHrA9JBEPDP/s1526/Picsart_24-01-28_17-48-08-641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="1130" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOhLnNm7YxnGLJ50hC6Hb5JslQSKEXlPSMn7f06isNKr8hA_aQNgnO5AfRmDZw0UQayKPt6Sa4sdDgqRI-5FOCI6sYogk2JdCdWfOAwWCTiiidFYIJhbZqa3eIgjXqJfEoqZmUcls8M5LK4pxkolm01ZjOC8XMfEAJENnPGCxrsjiqTz5aBHrA9JBEPDP/s320/Picsart_24-01-28_17-48-08-641.jpg" width="237" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">Jonathan S Baker lives and works in Evansville, Indiana where the Sterling Brewery finally tarnished. They are the author of several collections of poetry including Cock of the Walk (Laughing Ronin Press, 2022) and Long Nights in Stoplight City (Between Shadows Press, 2023). They are also the host of the longest running and most prestigious poetry series in Indiana, Poetry Speaks.</span></span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-8749371357013737852024-03-12T06:33:00.000-07:002024-03-12T06:33:29.511-07:00RICHARDS WILD IRISH ROSE By Larry Houston <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">oh mothers </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">when he was born,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">crying, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">slippery with birth</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">warm on your chest </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">feeling your heartbeat</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">did you think he would grow up</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to stand on a corner</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in dirty clothes</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">reeking of Richards</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">at 9 in the morning?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrO0gkOIZ-znQngLzHtQBg4h-tmmCnC2UEKsQy1MksPl4whfn2KcLTYoVDgBsG_uFBJX3dzEV5BDYzB504hwYOFOlSOV4t84tK7yIRHuDIDlqdDK6J7bnYCvHtJeIxyYLXo0eYYYOop31d9sCNNAwLGYPMTvgJRyh5BOKzpNHWlFCwNQKmjfau0dqv-wE/s1100/20220730_082054%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="767" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrO0gkOIZ-znQngLzHtQBg4h-tmmCnC2UEKsQy1MksPl4whfn2KcLTYoVDgBsG_uFBJX3dzEV5BDYzB504hwYOFOlSOV4t84tK7yIRHuDIDlqdDK6J7bnYCvHtJeIxyYLXo0eYYYOop31d9sCNNAwLGYPMTvgJRyh5BOKzpNHWlFCwNQKmjfau0dqv-wE/s320/20220730_082054%20(1).jpg" width="223" /></span></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am most happy when trying to create something of interest when writing. I started writing in my 50’s and have a few pieces published in Medusa’s Kitchen.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-77991767260248577042024-03-11T06:46:00.000-07:002024-03-11T06:46:02.953-07:00Midnight Masochism by John Patrick Robbins / A Review By Kevin M. Hibshman <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-LwX2KcnvbDQij5bC6gsOBbKVK4KPRzBh4CUPVE1tbfUvgMXo3x3w4t_MlpOdZlOZuA02hbnw_NZ36RDeK2DletINK_YmMWBs6QWbcABxM0EHMyMkVcuBWwO9QtophMIBeUX4Q_QKC7dE4YnRXfKsaw0daVCaQPXVNf_yJU3TBR-XvgumY7i_lOpf3VM/s996/20240120_150117.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="662" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-LwX2KcnvbDQij5bC6gsOBbKVK4KPRzBh4CUPVE1tbfUvgMXo3x3w4t_MlpOdZlOZuA02hbnw_NZ36RDeK2DletINK_YmMWBs6QWbcABxM0EHMyMkVcuBWwO9QtophMIBeUX4Q_QKC7dE4YnRXfKsaw0daVCaQPXVNf_yJU3TBR-XvgumY7i_lOpf3VM/w266-h400/20240120_150117.png" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I picked up this book during the wee hours of the morning. I'd just received a copy in the mail and thought that I'd skim through it briefly. I was having trouble falling asleep. I figured reading a few of the selections might induce drowsiness. I was dead wrong and I should have known better. I have been familiar with Robbin's work for some time but was not prepared for this. I could not put this book down. After experiencing the first few pages, I realized I would have to keep going until the end.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> All of his trademarks are present: the dark, often self-deprecating humor, the deeply personal confessions, his gift for story-telling and a unique world view based on a life of beating the odds but the poems are sharper, written in his own style I labeled Southern Gothic. The images are genuinely as fresh as they are disturbing. The book made me chuckle, it also frightened me and one piece, a moving ode to his ailing mother, had me in tears. In other words, powerful stuff. I feel this is Robbin's defining moment. A statement of purpose as well as his true manifesto. He's long been interested in the horror genre and here, he is redefining it in a way I believe only he can. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I strongly recommend this work of art to anyone who appreciates honesty, true grit and the pursuit of beauty in the nightmarish world we have come to live in. It is the most rewarding loss of sleep I have ever known.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Kevin M. Hibshman </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Masochism-John-Patrick-Robbins/dp/B0CRQD523K" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Masochism-John-Patrick-Robbins/dp/B0CRQD523K</a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-FysBBf3LH9QTrAJkjNSUP_twYrmx-R5X40NKJ33dmuA0EMPxvns4eFDIvxvxw_DMi9KMtuGn0NPyeXKTssYrGu8RJOevprjV7-WNVGNuvlou0bNzshJoDfiEJpkXHHQJgisb-CmKHlNbsxf14sI_bvYvlt2UjV4pL-B31qRvzGtuzeRqiwCupzq_j07/s1923/IMG_0687-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1923" data-original-width="1373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-FysBBf3LH9QTrAJkjNSUP_twYrmx-R5X40NKJ33dmuA0EMPxvns4eFDIvxvxw_DMi9KMtuGn0NPyeXKTssYrGu8RJOevprjV7-WNVGNuvlou0bNzshJoDfiEJpkXHHQJgisb-CmKHlNbsxf14sI_bvYvlt2UjV4pL-B31qRvzGtuzeRqiwCupzq_j07/s320/IMG_0687-1.JPG" width="228" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Kevin M. Hibshman has had poems published in many journals and magazines world wide.In addition, he has edited his poetry zine, Fearless, since 1990 and is the author of sixteen chapbooks including Love Sex Death Dreams (Green Bean Press, 2000) and Incessant Shining (Alternating Current, 2011).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">His current book Cease To Destroy from Whiskey City Press is currently available on Amazon.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cease-Destroy-Kevin-M-Hibshman/dp/B0BYRCVHCZ" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Cease-Destroy-Kevin-M-Hibshman/dp/B0BYRCVHCZ</a><br /></span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-82276263789080660392024-03-10T06:34:00.000-07:002024-03-10T06:34:38.627-07:00Not Right By Michael Dwayne Smith<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No one uses searchlights unless you’re missing,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">as in dark river gone, as in boats and ropes.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Love isn’t dynamite, or even a pan flute.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More like cigarettes in bed, half-moon in a window,</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">darling fast asleep.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And sure, sometimes I end up at The Last Chance,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">throwing down black pints and shots of Jamie,</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but I wish nothing but the best for you, despite</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">snakebites and broken glass.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were barefoot, and strong, but durably wrong.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhW9MpkC2Kkukc213fczexopSpsyxRauL87M8A39zOBaOfeaLFmuCAy30A4x4J3m-_3GedxzSBExgPkg5vspvK3jgbQqO803nf8wQZ8jeYTqxlwUhXNVDFXZQnPfTC-yEGsstQLXy2ozS20GF2OpZkXa5vZzXKWYty6ruCEgkUh-iFi-qiFgK3vvo2R3J/s400/my%20author%20pic%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhW9MpkC2Kkukc213fczexopSpsyxRauL87M8A39zOBaOfeaLFmuCAy30A4x4J3m-_3GedxzSBExgPkg5vspvK3jgbQqO803nf8wQZ8jeYTqxlwUhXNVDFXZQnPfTC-yEGsstQLXy2ozS20GF2OpZkXa5vZzXKWYty6ruCEgkUh-iFi-qiFgK3vvo2R3J/s320/my%20author%20pic%202.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Michael Dwayne Smith haunts many literary houses, including The Cortland Review, New World Writing, Third Wednesday, Gargoyle, Chiron Review, Monkeybicycle, and Heavy Feather Review. Author of four books, recipient of the Hinderaker Prize for poetry, the Polonsky Prize for fiction, and a multiple-time Pushcart Prize/Best of the Net nominee, he lives near a Mojave Desert ghost town with his family and rescued horses. His latest full-length collection hopes to go from apparition to publication in 2024.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-67689273749529503892024-03-09T05:25:00.000-08:002024-03-09T05:25:58.904-08:00The Book Thief By Brenton Booth <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I was at a party at an ocean </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">front house. There were lots </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of people there. One of them </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">had acted in an adaptation of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Raymond Carvers, "So Much </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Water, So Close to Home”.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Everyone was drinking,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">though he didn’t touch a drop.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And kept talking to anyone</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he could, in the loudest, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">most certain voice possible</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">about the film, and Raymond</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Carver. I avoided him </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">successfully until Tina told </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">him I was a writer. With that, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he cornered me and asked if I </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">had read Carver and seen the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">film. I thought it was the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">worst adaptation ever made </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of a Carver story, and his acting </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">was terrible. I told him I hadn’t.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Well, no wonder you are</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">unpublished!” he said in a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">disgusted tone. I thanked him </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and got another drink. The next </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">day I wrote this poem, and who </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">knows, maybe it will be turned </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">into a film one day. And he </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">can ruin it as well.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ckQ0v6nvXhzIVLDEYq3oyPAWm0_qv2JAjMM8XNtBzaKHUU_BnhJhQsQJOKt0BzUBgTEZaxKSfH5K7VSlOB253P8f3QNj9mkuCFV9rnRirTAbJobom_8MtKMTT3cco2wJxP4yr-M2lwSf9DQA-F2F1W7Cb6T9VvWYDIJtlwly5XlbADIrhlcP7fJtCxQ/s3264/Author%20Pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ckQ0v6nvXhzIVLDEYq3oyPAWm0_qv2JAjMM8XNtBzaKHUU_BnhJhQsQJOKt0BzUBgTEZaxKSfH5K7VSlOB253P8f3QNj9mkuCFV9rnRirTAbJobom_8MtKMTT3cco2wJxP4yr-M2lwSf9DQA-F2F1W7Cb6T9VvWYDIJtlwly5XlbADIrhlcP7fJtCxQ/s320/Author%20Pic.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Brenton Booth lives in Sydney, Australia. Poetry of his has appeared in Gargoyle, New York Quarterly, North Dakota Quarterly, Chiron Review, Main Street Rag, Naugatuck River Review, Heavy Feather Review, and Nerve Cowboy. He has two full length collections available from Epic Rites Press. </span></p><br />The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-66387968350163631692024-03-08T04:53:00.000-08:002024-03-08T04:53:46.849-08:00Just Another Hungover Day By Mickey J. Corrigan <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The moaning mouth of morning</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">woke you with a start, ache</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to the bones of your teeth</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">out of the last hot gasp </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of a dream </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of a greenery maze</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">you followed broken branches</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the heady aroma of jasmine</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that blooms white under moonlight</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to the end of the existential labyrinth</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">where you asserted yourself</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">announced who you were</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to the hairy minotaur man</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">who laughed, whinnied, thrust</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">his small power at you, you</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shrank down, withering</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">you chose to drown again</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in your maudlin wine glass</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">tiny woman spilling over</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">until you stood up tall</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hefted a whiskey toast</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the battle cry of your genes</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">outlasting, outlouding</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the embittered baby monster</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">boiling in your blood.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8BWRnPbwl9yo5ZF_e1tG_plaV-7cfr0vU6tpqkWjXCWakQoFFKBpS-ELmP8q9qFowf_0J1ztosc3QctibT0uudt6pK7fWM2rbSS51iTlM5C8grHokCVEWpJ9vpbs_TOm7rxKfsQ_DAUc953bT0c-2S5bwl3gah-2dV8BB7k7r4hGitDK839QzNYok5Rd/s400/Mickey%20J.%20Corrigan.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8BWRnPbwl9yo5ZF_e1tG_plaV-7cfr0vU6tpqkWjXCWakQoFFKBpS-ELmP8q9qFowf_0J1ztosc3QctibT0uudt6pK7fWM2rbSS51iTlM5C8grHokCVEWpJ9vpbs_TOm7rxKfsQ_DAUc953bT0c-2S5bwl3gah-2dV8BB7k7r4hGitDK839QzNYok5Rd/s320/Mickey%20J.%20Corrigan.JPG" width="181" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Originally from Boston, Mickey J. Corrigan writes tropical noir with a dark humor. Her poetry has been widely published in literary journals and chapbooks. In 2020, Grandma Moses Press released Florida Man. Her novel The Physics of Grief puts the fun back in funerals while taking a serious look at the process of mourning (QuoScript, UK, 2021).</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><br /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-82176220698940148252024-03-07T07:43:00.000-08:002024-03-07T07:43:03.099-08:00Open Mic Night at the Minerva Lounge By Tobi Alfier <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">She’s a closed-up woman,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">bouncer in a gay bar</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">on Open Mic night.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">God knows how it happened</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">but here she is, an unpaid extra</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in the movie of her own life.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hair the color of late summer wheat</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">pulled back over pixie-ears</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as she checks I.D.’s, don’t let her</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">kind voice fool you, she’ll take a shot</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and take you down in one fell swoop</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">if you misbehave. Now sign up</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and get inside before she flattens you, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the weather’s unkind to people by the door—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">there go the tips.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The bartender’s eyes are tender,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">especially to those who should’ve passed</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by and passed—on their fifteen minutes</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of rueful fame. Grief’s a regular</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">here, and a four-pour turning to six</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is as gentle as a hospice nurse with</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">a hand on your shoulder.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Open Mic bartender has a mega-crush</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">on the host, who spends his days</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in the kitchens of cafes by the shore.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He smells of sweat and basil with</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">a touch of tartar sauce, his nose a bit white</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">from a line done out in his car as he grabs</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">his equipment.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">These men think fame’s just</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in their shadow. She hates to break</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">it to anyone, but you, in the dusky evening gown,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">lips warm as bourbon and plausible voice,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">you’ve been here before even if you’ve</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">never been here before. Praise-dance</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">or pray, you’ve nothing on the congregants</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">just down the street. What can I get you?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Your fortune says a shot of tequila,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">wedge of lemon, and my salty lips. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That’s it. Get out. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6PYeB9Ugn6LCbmnOpZX8eg0QRoQeFQVx9oyR2M_HePpgC0mGDukM5CHTdDAEt34d-2Xyk1lqoqCUUPhAdZIupof7qxiWfv6mNi2c7OsElj3Umyg2Km3MGtrlDBtFUx1hzKifofEisyB0-pEXx7v2b_KgwWApWB7nYDzoWMFFWvaTv2nZvzZBM2NLsR4F/s1600/1708109882491_Tobi%20Alfier%20-%20300%20dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6PYeB9Ugn6LCbmnOpZX8eg0QRoQeFQVx9oyR2M_HePpgC0mGDukM5CHTdDAEt34d-2Xyk1lqoqCUUPhAdZIupof7qxiWfv6mNi2c7OsElj3Umyg2Km3MGtrlDBtFUx1hzKifofEisyB0-pEXx7v2b_KgwWApWB7nYDzoWMFFWvaTv2nZvzZBM2NLsR4F/s320/1708109882491_Tobi%20Alfier%20-%20300%20dpi.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">Tobi Alfier is published nationally and internationally. Credits include War, Literature and the Arts, The American Journal of Poetry, KGB Bar Lit Mag, Washington Square Review, Cholla Needles, James Dickey Review, Gargoyle, Permafrost, Arkansas Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, and others. She is co-editor of San Pedro River Review (</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.bluehorsepress.com&source=gmail&ust=1708039850265000&usg=AOvVaw3SZiA7kTzHRnfU1s4sk2Ke" href="http://www.bluehorsepress.com/" rel="noreferrer" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.bluehorsepress.com</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">).</span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-35726859237232246682024-03-06T06:29:00.000-08:002024-03-06T06:29:00.611-08:001972 By Glenn Armstrong<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just heard a Velvet Underground song</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">on a commercial. The “underground”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is officially dead. How can ideas have</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">time to ferment when some demo</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is on social media seven seconds later?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I put </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Velvet Underground & Nico</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">on the turntable anyway. German </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nico still pronounces “clown” as “clon.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In other news, an American spacecraft</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">landed on the moon for the first time</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">since 1972. Yet, there’s still nothing good</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">on, streaming or otherwise, as an ancient</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">TV Guide</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> fossilizes at the bottom</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">of a garbage heap. ‘72 was a great year</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for music: Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, T. Rex’s</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Slider</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, Lou Reed’s </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Transformer</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Notable films that year:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The Godfather</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fat City</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Getaway</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. (All based</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">on novels!) I was alive then, but not doing</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">much. Now it’s time to flip the record over. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSnYRE7Cdu7zkDrgoj-nTj1DFsLdhLFHf6XWuKiw1GnHzIcxZRzYE4X4SaULt2H-ihoTytjvt1XDcSg3EqTLgSh6B548m7Vtk-BCwhanywr3tW_cq62CBwoydPQOILw-7up4YeZQ_LBHJ5QaXP1XYZvRL8QLGm6Q7x6Z7WwTGOOWUWQht0kclRJVXPBoh/s1920/GJA%203.5.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSnYRE7Cdu7zkDrgoj-nTj1DFsLdhLFHf6XWuKiw1GnHzIcxZRzYE4X4SaULt2H-ihoTytjvt1XDcSg3EqTLgSh6B548m7Vtk-BCwhanywr3tW_cq62CBwoydPQOILw-7up4YeZQ_LBHJ5QaXP1XYZvRL8QLGm6Q7x6Z7WwTGOOWUWQht0kclRJVXPBoh/s320/GJA%203.5.24.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Glenn Armstrong was an '80s NYC club kid. Foundational music from the Ramones to P-Funk informs his poetry. His work has appeared in <i>The Beatnik Cowboy,</i> <i>The Rye Whiskey Review</i>, and others. He lives in San Diego.</span></div></div><div><br /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-60134967885847206582024-03-05T05:34:00.000-08:002024-03-05T05:34:43.806-08:00 a few brushes with death By J.J. Campbell <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">nights alone</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">thinking of all </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the lost loves</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">how i wish they </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">could see me now</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">mature, serious</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">what they wanted </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">me to be in my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">twenties</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">it takes a few brushes </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with death to get down </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to the real shit of life</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">so, i’m done pissing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">away chances</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">done building </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the wall</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of course, my luck </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">dictates no one else </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">will ever come </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">knocking on </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that door</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">but this old soul</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">still sees a few </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">glimpses of hope</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">plus, all the bottles </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of alcohol have </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">matured as well</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">so, i’m sure some </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">lonely soul wouldn’t </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">mind an evening </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">drinking the good </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shit</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span></span></p><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Kh80NwnGIJvxOLQqqCN1UqPnFIC-0KT14JUGa_DzGvG88tcwRk_89im_NEnl72aJzQesXrSr59_fJiTH4bK7rZEKTp-efet22OyaMyNqIYshfk2LkNuHld2eKioDbo4GlxKzR9nWoHhgZsN3IRhYGTTyN1_HYJ_WXujTWp6ite5qSRtbXsAoZxi7_KdF/s1920/1707605985460blob.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Kh80NwnGIJvxOLQqqCN1UqPnFIC-0KT14JUGa_DzGvG88tcwRk_89im_NEnl72aJzQesXrSr59_fJiTH4bK7rZEKTp-efet22OyaMyNqIYshfk2LkNuHld2eKioDbo4GlxKzR9nWoHhgZsN3IRhYGTTyN1_HYJ_WXujTWp6ite5qSRtbXsAoZxi7_KdF/s320/1707605985460blob.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">J.J. Campbell (1976 - ?) was raised by wolves yet managed to graduate high school with honors. He's been widely published over the years, most recently at Synchronized Chaos, Horror Sleaze Trash, The Asylum Floor, The Beatnik Cowboy and Misfit Magazine. You can find him most days on his mildly entertaining blog, evil delights. (</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://evildelights.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1707779399959000&usg=AOvVaw2FyfPUytmUlBjAdibVUoWc" href="https://evildelights.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #4285f4; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://evildelights.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a><span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">)</span></div><div><br /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-44848856729182331552024-03-03T15:42:00.000-08:002024-03-03T15:42:44.691-08:00Love Me Even If I'm Disembodied By Alexis Child<p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday's shift still aches in my bones. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Odium. Eyes of burning coals. And </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the blood runs cold. Seven horsemen </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">thunder down the road. Burn. Covered </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in bullet holes. The ground weeps, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">corrupted lies of war. Dead but dreaming.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Give me something to believe in. Hope? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Close your eyes. Breathe light. Awake</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But awakened. They take back the night. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You were only dreaming. The angels </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">are in your bones. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Panic grips your vision. Like a whiplash child, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">with each different cry, can you tell me who </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the villain is with each ring of the phone? Look </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">away. We came to dance for the Divine, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a second time with a different rhyme. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Love doesn't die and God uses distress to open </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">our eyes. I ride with the reigns of demons. I am </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">every cradle that rocked, every bow that breaks. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm delightfully mad. Your finger is on my trigger. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our wings have grown but, only birds fly free.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And I don't even know how the world works. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stretched out past eternity, far beyond </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">my madness, Or silly egos. God is calling. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The ocean is in my breath. Doesn't matter </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">what they say. All the fake affinity and flowers </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">they never sent. The joke is always the same. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And you always forget my name. The colors </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">spin skin to skin. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fools by invitation. My tainted soul is shining </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">through. All poems are ghosts. With each </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">false promise I am taught to stand on my own </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">two feet. I grieve for myself. In this blue dementia</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">against the end of days, those liars show me </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I must swing higher. The walls in this house </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">are like bars on a cage. Doesn't matter what</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">they say. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You once told me, to save myself from </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the world from all its wars, to first save </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">myself from all the wars I put myself through. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hope, Faith, Strength? Conditions may arise. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Community of ridicule. Is there some relief?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A brand new dress? A thicker skin? God's Got </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This. I give it to him but things are looking grim. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My mind leaves my body behind, I have </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">daydreams in my nightmares. A spectral </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">symphony of screams.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spirits follow me everywhere I go. They love me. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am touched by the hand of fate. Or slightly </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">psychotic? Like all the ghosts, I will be soon </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">forgotten. Love me even if I'm disembodied. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I rip my ghost outfit. There must be hate </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in heaven too. I hate it here and I hate you too. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My pen hates you. My PC too. State of heaven </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is just air. I swear. Demons can't dance </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">from this darkness you make. I feel like a ghost </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">from the moment I am lost. Psyche Killer. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Red Flag. Momma can you save me? </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You break my things when you touch them </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and you break me. You let me down </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">when you're around. In your makeshift car, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">you are as deadly as a weapon. A great </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">invention. A prosecutor. A clown passing </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">counterfeit money at the carnival. The very </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">center of my existence. A needle in the eye </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">of the moon. Someone to vent to. A joke. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">May God have mercy on your soul. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You are an undead monstrosity. But I still </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">appreciate you. The shape of your eyes goes</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">round my heart. Can the devil even love? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The devil is a woman. Beware her smile. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKlGqwCY823SVuOL8UDqzPBbEyUoRqBVqwAuiLQu60tqpKNc3cBLDrkmZbxNDKU5NW3Au5QQ3nTFgcTFNkPoA2nZLEdBLODE41lKqJj6bxM2k3KJAnzNXC2zInZa2YYUK5KRaERcwjjruN618PMrRWG0ak_GCj64hx_6InR3ZcfCq4nNpjxfGpq9BxcCu/s4128/Alexis%20Jan%202022%20Picture%20%235%20%20Alternate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKlGqwCY823SVuOL8UDqzPBbEyUoRqBVqwAuiLQu60tqpKNc3cBLDrkmZbxNDKU5NW3Au5QQ3nTFgcTFNkPoA2nZLEdBLODE41lKqJj6bxM2k3KJAnzNXC2zInZa2YYUK5KRaERcwjjruN618PMrRWG0ak_GCj64hx_6InR3ZcfCq4nNpjxfGpq9BxcCu/s320/Alexis%20Jan%202022%20Picture%20%235%20%20Alternate.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Alexis Child hails from Toronto, Canada; home to dreams and nightmares. Besides having rare mystical experiences she hopes are not just short circuits in the brain, she offers Tarot Readings and writes dark poetry and fiction, starving in the garret with her muse. A starving child is a frightful sight. A starving vampire is even worse. Please donate non-perishable food items and B-negative blood (and make it a double!).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Alexis’ poetry and fiction has been featured in numerous online and print publications. Her debut poetry collection, Devil in the Clock, is available on Amazon. Her third collection of poetry, Exquisite Corpse, is set to be released in the future.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Please visit Alexis’ YouTube Channel: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@alexischild5456/videos&source=gmail&ust=1709472715216000&usg=AOvVaw2PYC1YD6CF4pr3kYmYEVA4" href="https://www.youtube.com/@alexischild5456/videos" rel="noreferrer" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.youtube.com/@<wbr></wbr>alexischild5456/videos</span></a></div></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /></p>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-83206255844555946112024-03-01T08:49:00.000-08:002024-03-04T08:14:59.128-08:00Visible Blues by Connie Johnson <p><br /></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ideas pour</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quivered with nerves</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All my streets are strewn with roses</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And this is the path I want you to tread</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jiggle it, ice cubes clinking</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hey slim, dark dream! This 2-step</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You got me doing is a killer</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Throat filled with stardust</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In a eulogized garden</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Inscribe some wisdom</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Show mercy for all crimes</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What remains of you</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is what sustains me. Visible blues!</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like lyrics by Sister Rosetta Tharpe</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">About a tall skinny papa</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Salvation!</i> In a world full of all</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This thorny need<i></i></span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycqW__R2vzP5CqvoVSv982X21VCCFSo_vSoa8HAAKxNXupECEF8TTeMnAv3mb4dJr2L2T0BmLtiUJ9HfHsOpfn7z_4hTtfWEX7424HJ6f153wq7k3b50-E-1glzNvFhZox1JaZWE6dFj5ioOPFt_7P7NjN7ojG-oMhQlGu1n6EaLOsmD7APZX4rpxScO6/s698/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycqW__R2vzP5CqvoVSv982X21VCCFSo_vSoa8HAAKxNXupECEF8TTeMnAv3mb4dJr2L2T0BmLtiUJ9HfHsOpfn7z_4hTtfWEX7424HJ6f153wq7k3b50-E-1glzNvFhZox1JaZWE6dFj5ioOPFt_7P7NjN7ojG-oMhQlGu1n6EaLOsmD7APZX4rpxScO6/s320/image.png" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Connie Johnson is a Los Angeles, CA-based writer who was twice-nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2023. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Iconoclast, Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal, San Pedro River Review, Cholla Needles, Voicemail Poems, Misfit Magazine, Mudfish 23, Exit 13, Glint Literary Journal, Writing in a Woman’s Voice, The Rye Whiskey Review, Sport Literate and Door Is a Jar. Everything is Distant Now (Blue Horse Press), her debut poetry collection, is available on Amazon; In a Place of Dreams, her digital album/chapbook, can be found at <a href="http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/">www.jerryjazzmusician.com</a> <br /></span><br /><br /><br /> <br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467220126345197381.post-69205349016551012262024-02-29T09:10:00.000-08:002024-02-29T09:11:12.921-08:00THE DRUNKARD AT 2.00 A.M. By John Grey <p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ejected from the bar</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">at closing time,</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I avoid a tangle</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of brawling drunks</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">on the sidewalk,</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">no spring in my step,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">no sexy young woman on my arm.,</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">just the taste of alcohol on my tongue,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and a head like a nest </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of copulating foxes,</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">my extended arm</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">out of reach </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of every cab</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as the buildings higher up,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">close their eyes,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">crash in place,</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and I stagger </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in no particular direction,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">cold and brain-dead</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and as thirsty </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as Lawrence Of Arabia’s horse –</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’m like a prisoner just released –</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I sure could use</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">a spell in jail about now.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkat-DuDzCg7o-lfm0XV_u_ESCSNKP1ptzycmUsIDup5WtNnHc0kaO83-OKWvZqWzpcOGx9W9-tUC4rz6l1P2peIz4b8StA34okzFtO44JN7Tx0nxJ9EAe4D0zMJQskgvDAIMiXuLqMcSmbf6oHMTPR8rStm5OTcuiCXYYK6dB1icCHaTp4yeW1fDLaCEi/s213/File0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="213" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkat-DuDzCg7o-lfm0XV_u_ESCSNKP1ptzycmUsIDup5WtNnHc0kaO83-OKWvZqWzpcOGx9W9-tUC4rz6l1P2peIz4b8StA34okzFtO44JN7Tx0nxJ9EAe4D0zMJQskgvDAIMiXuLqMcSmbf6oHMTPR8rStm5OTcuiCXYYK6dB1icCHaTp4yeW1fDLaCEi/s1600/File0005.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in New World Writing, North Dakota Quarterly and Lost Pilots. Latest books, ”Between Two Fires”, “Covert” and “Memory Outside The Head” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in California Quarterly, Seventh Quarry, La Presa and Doubly Mad.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p></div><div><br /></div>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373465203432008488noreply@blogger.com0