On the Nature of Air

We breathe

the same air

cologne & sweat

rippling-round

til fear seeps in

adrenaline

blood & death

horror

despair

in the end

we breathe sweet air

*Monday note: I've edited this and like this version much better!
 
Kerry called for short poems on the subject of Death and Night. This is also responsive to Izy’s prompt to write from a recently received text message (my first line here).

Nice Cage

Am thrilled to have a poem in the inaugural issue of Nice Cage, a new, gorgeous, very cool literary magazine. Fairly prescient that the issue's theme is Predator/Prey and the magazine's tagline is "Enjoy Being Human." It's awesome to be published alongside comrades Kerry O'Connor, W.K. Kortas, and many others excitingly new to me. Hearty congratulations and thanks to editor and co-founder Isadora Gruye.

Take a look: Nice Cage

For My Husband on His 40th Birthday

I’m thinking

of demanding spousal rights

to your gallbladder

when the surgeon takes it out,

bringing it home in my purse,

one stone for an earring,

one stashed

in the locket you gave me,

the last one under my pillow

for dreamkeeping,

your name bile-tattooed

across my heart,

flesh of the precious organ

buried deep in the dirt

of the old angel-wing begonia

that’s flowered our marriage,

spindly reaching for the sun.

Except the Memory of You

Sometimes I feel like

some sad old goddamn song

that everyone knows the words to

but just won’t sing along

        --Charlie Chesterman, "Mister Blue"

Laughing girl

tugs her beater over her belly

overshares

earns a stage shout-out

is easily amused

seemingly cheerful

like baby’s breath

in a carnation bouquet

She is rain on Sunday

bag of kittens in the river

calliope

last call banjo

at Nico’s Recovery Room

stumbling down Highland Ave

three flights up

to an empty bed

Flash 55 for Real Toads!