Riding Giants
Each new love affair
is like
standing in front of
a 50 foot wave
it looked doable
from shore.
–Everyone Knows the Dice Are Loaded
Rattlesnake Press
Narcissist Lament
Looking into the mirror
he says,
“I’m looking
for someone
just like you.”
–Still A Party
Rattlesnake Press
Semantics
“Did you sleep with her?”
she demanded.
“No.”
Walking away,
thinking,
“Sleep-
is what I do
with you.”
–From Roxy
R.L. Crowe Publications
It’s always
the girls with glasses
that get
me
especially when
they are filled with
Wild Turkey, Corona,
and Seven & Sevens.
–From Tonight You’re Coming Home With Us
Six Ft. Swells Press
Cold Plunge
He proposed to me
in a steam bath
on my 30th birthday,
but he didn’t say
the words.
I pointed that out,
and then he jumped
into the cold plunge.
But I couldn’t do it,
only up to my calves.
In the hot tub
I kept looking
at the ring,
as if it was some new,
shiny scar
I will always
have with me
no matter what,
fascinating
and appalling
at the same time.
–from The Distance Between
Six Ft. Swells Press
Pissed Off at Angels
Your need to profess
your belief in angels
on Facebook
is really pissing me off.
I mean, you’re the one who’s Catholic,
and I don’t go to church,
but even I know
that angels
aren’t just a nice piece of ass.
They don’t go around
giving married men advice
and sipping venti lattes,
or drive luxury SUV’s
in a sea-level city,
or tell you how to find love.
A real bona fide angel
would be the woman
whose been putting up with your shit
for 22 years,
the sweet mother of your children.
The fact is,
unless you’re whispering
the word in your wife’s ear,
if I hear you mention angels
one more time
I’m going to kick you
in the nuts,
while all the angels
laugh their asses off
and there won’t be a prayer in hell
to save you.
–from The Distance Between
Six Ft. Swells Press
Rounds
Rap on the jukebox
not meant for
such a fine machine –
but I drink anyway
not afraid of
the fucking night –
someone will get in a fight,
but I’ll be here,
where it’s warm
on the same barstool
ordering another round
of Red Bull and vodka,
knocking myself out
with my dollar
and Muddy Waters’ blues.
–Cocktails & Confessions
Six Ft. Swells Press
was on the machine-
she ran into an
old flame
while on the trip
her first true love
what are the odds?
I meet her
at the train station,
watch them kiss
on the platform.
Nearby
a mighty
Santa Fe
grinds
to a halt
while
my heartbreak
rumbles on
knowing
I am not
her
desired
destination
it was her,
that drove me
to the liquor store.
We didn’t
even own
a car.
on a crappy Monday
and car won’t start,
he walks home
with heavy steps.
He passes the bar
with dollar drafts
and a tied ball game,
but he’s not interested
tonight.
6 hours
before his next shift
he longs for sleep,
he’s not even through the door
before he drops
everything,
a trail of clothes
follow him
to his bed.
He eases
under the sheets,
alarm set
lights out.
The phone rings,
it’s her.
“I can’t sleep”
she says
“can you talk for a bit”
“Sure”
he says,
“I wasn’t tired
anyway.”
When her date goes
Julie Valin
Todd Cirillo
Matt Amott
