must be the upcoming road
trip to Portland, to return
briskly in love with
someone
I haven’t seen
in years
and work on my state
in
her living room
where lamps float
sails on a lake room
(originally published in Setu, Summer 2020)
Month: December 2022
Pool
so much depends
upon placement
an 8-ball
between stripes
at the edge
of a hole
a drunkard
aims the stick
knocks in
loss
with unbuttoned
cuff
(originally published in Door Is A Jar Magazine, Spring 2020)
Bullfrogs
My mind was split in two–
there was unreality. And then you two,
David and Anna. We were on the dancefloor
at Phipps conservatory when David asked
me to be Best Man. When I said hell yeah,
an octogenarian gave his all to Daft Punk
on a dancefloor that’s hosted hundreds
of weddings. I was writing a screenplay
in my mind that already I have forgotten.
But it probably involved a forever love,
a lotus, and a flytrap. We went outside
to see bullfrogs, to leave the indoor heat,
and there was a chorus in the swamps,
unexpected baritones and falsettos
we could not anticipate. A cool breeze
contrasted earlier heat, and rain, and
in the end I was with my friends, singing
with bullfrogs their forever songs
that will– I hope– outlast us all.
(originally published in Capsule Stories, Spring 2020)
The Producer at the End of Pre-Production
gorge on whoppers we’re making a movie
this bag of salmon we’re making a movie
sleeping pills we’re making a movie
thirteen hours plus we’re making a movie
I won’t eat pizza we’re making a movie
Caesar salad in the storm we’re making a movie
no one goes home we’re making a movie
watery leftovers we’re making a movie
dropkicked phones we’re making a movie
at the paper cutter we’re making a movie
beets at crafty we’re making a movie
there’s nothing to eat we’re making a movie
thousands of packages we’re making a movie
we’re making the movie Monday what will you be doing
are you going to miss us we’re making the movie
(originally published in Mad Swirl, Summer 2020)