It was an ancient city. All the young people left as soon as they could but the old remained in their mortgaged huts surrounded by evergreens that offered a haven for cardinals and jays, robins and finches. No matter the season birds flew from tree limbs to feed on seed and suet put out by too many widows […]
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On Mixing Macarons and Vicodin That winter split me like firewood. I was smaller, splintered, Elliot Smith would play on cassette in my blue Volkswagen, while our breath coursed through flared nostrils and damaged lungs. * I hid my pain like a sick dog. I slinked out, under the back deck, I swallowed some pills. In those hideous places I […]
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CLICHÉD Beggars can’t be choosers, For there is no choice for losers, And as paupers we must stand with open hand. Seeing is believing, But can also be deceiving When you’re grieving that you’re down and out again. Cruising for a bruising, If you’re thin-skinned, makes excusing Your intrusions not so simple of a chore. Striking while […]
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BLACK RABBIT (By Joseph Cavera) I’m late! So late! For a very important date! I’ve got to go! Oh no, oh no! It’s not so simply the queen I fear! No, oh no! Oh dear, oh dear! Steps behind me I pray won’t find me! His carroty scythe will surely send All whose time is up, their flesh […]
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THE ENDLESS SKY (By Joseph Cavera) What could be more interesting than spending Christmas with a friend, What could make us happier than to enjoy it to the end? Walking along the snow in the day, Not knowing or caring if I tread unto the fray, For then I stop, and then I lie, Staring at the edge of […]
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Underwater Ballet In the wistful – drowning; All dreamers hold their breath; Floating balloon Rests full in blister world before the land. Slippery between skin and scales, Drawn throbbing from the gilled; Great tuna from crustaceans postulated, Anemones new-boned; Parallel concert writhe Curls double joints. Flippers of androgyny Erected supple Thighs hoisted angular Lungs ultra-blown; Last […]
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Keystones on the ledge, where wisdom cannot factor in for the unexpected; the delusional, the lame duck periods. of self-doubt. of death. The best are full of doubt ridden stasis. and the worst whore their talents around the sin bin. and sell their soul to the nearest parchment to the next slutty street that we call intellectual capital. […]
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DON’T GO GENTLY – By Ray Gallucci Would you rather go Calmly like the snow, Or with memory Of a crushing sea? Ghosts seem seldom seen If they died serene. Most of manifests Come from violent deaths. Spectres who replay How they died that day Aren’t asleep in bed Or perceive they’re dead. Those were weren’t prepared […]
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Every summer they come, a ballet over the border, without papers, a mass migration of ruby-throat hummers, beautiful birds that devour millions of flies in North America, birds we welcome because we love their beauty and their ballet. We do everything to help them, hanging and cleaning feeders of nectar to plump them up so they can feast on flies until October when they have […]
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Antarctic Depths An ice-roofed stratosphere, clear liquid space And nerve-legged spiders Crack fans of anchor ice To mend all seals Here it is coddled by the final killer, Will it be toppled by comfort’s rays?
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