A canoe, turned, turns to siege ladder in the branches of a river bank. Branches like the spearmen of ground’s castle wall, while honeysuckle maidens, fair, hang their silks from tower windows in a kingdom so shrunk it fights only for a steady foot in the flowers. To not be trampled by size 11s, or … Continue reading Moat
THE PIGS WERE LINED UP on the platform of a little wood-framed stage, each one inside their own tiny pen made of clapboard and metal, some pressing snouts between the short, thin bars that were soon to be raised, jerking necks and stretching wide eyes colored jet black in the fluorescent-lit night, while others raced … Continue reading Night in the Ruts
Wee hours dark-house walking stumbling more like, when you jam your toe hard. You’d think you would know better and land each step with stalking-cat caution better yet, flip on the damn lights obviously. But reality: You’re gonna stub your toe a dozen or more times in an average lifespan just the way things go. … Continue reading These Things Happen
An ungreased swing singing dunes of cloud across a blue sky; it’s the common line. Our differences lie in the songs we don’t sing; a measure of rust on the chains that hold us. Or that some of us hold the chains. Like how all five senses hold the railing at Niagara. And like, when … Continue reading Any Playground In America
“PACK THE VAN, Marty,” Jack said. “Now?” “Now. Make sure you have everything. Video and stills for all three of us.” “OK. For what?” “The last bullfight,” he said. “Mexicans are outlawing bullfighting at the end of April. We have nine days to make the last one in Huamantla. La Taurina.” “Why?” “To make a … Continue reading The Last Bullfight
I wonder if the problem lies with me or infinity. Each day is its own kind of monster. More and more advertising speaks directly to me. Hearing but not listening. Listening but not hearing. Hot breath in my ear while I try to pick the lock on these handcuffs with my teeth. I need to … Continue reading The World’s Most Powerful Microscope
IT MIGHT HAVE STARTED with our father gifting my sister and me Swiss Army knives for our birthdays. Or maybe it was the broccoli and cauliflower drowned in melted Cheese Whiz he forced us to eat. My twin sister, in our private language, shared her revenge fantasies for that particular parenting faux pas. I won’t … Continue reading Cryptophasia
Armored blimps circling while villains build home aquariums: Know that when everything is spider-cracked, when car washes and gas stations and banks oversaturate suburbia, no tablemaking demonstration can save me. I light a candle just to dip my finger in the wax. Envision my hesitationas an oil rig. Snowbroth.A lot of pennies scattered on a … Continue reading Simmer
The jellyfish take the 6:00 AM train down to the beach. Some of the jellyfish make it through the sliding doors, some of them fall off the platform onto the tracks. I am the only not jellyfish on the train. The jellyfishes’ electric thoughts paint the ceiling of the car, the windows lit with neon … Continue reading Untitled (Jellyfish Poem)
THE SCIENCE FICTION WRITER waited outside the hotel, a revolver hanging heavy in the inner pocket of his overcoat. He’d only fired it twice, but at close range he didn’t imagine he’d have any difficulties. His hand was steady as he brought a cigarette to his mouth and puffed; in any case, it was all … Continue reading Zero/One