Compound

I break open the shell and scrape the innards outthe clouds plume like smoke or blood dispersing in water.This creature from the shallow sand now just separatepieces in my hand. The highway speeds are fluctuating with construction signs,and the blurring lines between the lanes that disappear beforeanyone is ready. The treeline is steady with its […]

Something To Stay For

She had a sore on the inside of her mouthand it reminded her of all the times she tookfor granted being comfortable.She clenched her teeth in the movie theaterwhen things would get loud and all the soundwould overwhelm her in a way that madeher really want to stay. The semi trucks soundedlike they were breathingas […]

Compensated

There’s a vintage metal toaster in her kitchenwith a red eye painted on the side that’s facinginward toward the room like it is watching youpour orange juice beyond the top capacityof the glass, you always use, because it’sdecorated with a blue spiral that goes upalong its sides like it’s supposed to. There are too few […]

Desperate Times

I’m more afraid of what I’m going to saythan the kid strapped in the roller coasterwho at moment one just wants to run away.There are empty patches out here left forgottenjust to be a piece of land you see when drivingthrough a different part of town.Dying cows with nothing on their mindsstand there like statues […]

Duration

Waking up angry at nothing but the lackof dreams and something to look forward to.This place is always new because it has to bein order to survive, shadows move pastmy window on their way down from the second floorto heavy doors on dying cars that sound likeanimals in pain when they are brought to lifewith […]

White Rabbit

Newly married artists had some money finallyafter a wealthy client purchased bits of work.She had always wanted a dog and he wantedher to be happy so they went to the shelter to spreadtheir good fortune around.The place was kept together but still when walkingthe hallways there was a layer of grime over everythingincluding the dogs. […]

Grins

A wall of vague stone faces haunted a smalltown in northern Maine and no one evertalked about it even as they passed itin the night. The high school kidswould drink there on Halloween or dayswhen they were bored late in the summer.She was a drummer and she would hit the kitfor hours in her padded […]