I loved Rena as much as a patient could love their gynecologist. We had tea together in her office. I cried when she asked how I was doing, and she showed me pictures of her terriers.
Hitting up homes peopled by those with nothing much to lose was an easy score. The less you had, the less likely you were to defend it. But this home was different. Its residents had a lot to lose and the will to fight for it.
Allanson looked out of the viewport, at the ragtag flotilla of ships trailing behind, some of them slow to catch up. It was to be expected with the little time that they’d had to cobble the fleet together.
here is the sky in stop motion, flickering,
a still shot in monochrome
Ghosts for hire, whispers in her mouth,
cysts to feel, the symmetry of a gift.
and on and on and on and on they ran, the Merry Men, running from a hundred and one arrows bought with taxes stolen twice over…
You let the yellow glow
from eye sockets. The building up the street
is burning faster and faster.
Part of being a good sad person
is always painting the shadows
in the right direction and knowing
what sorrow to art with.
When I was on earth I was a pretty good kid. I only got drunk when I needed to get drunk.
Empty vessels
make the most sound, I think,
as you rip the fairy lights off the handrail.
I don’t know why I was still talking about the rapture. I certainly didn’t believe in it. Regardless, it remained a thief…
I pushed my nose to within an inch from the rug. I sniffed, and sniffed, and I smelled something…not quite right, but I couldn’t place it.
Mama sped along the highway, unbothered by bits of gravel that flew up from the front tires and struck the windshield of the sedan.
Taking photographs of my hometown has given me a chance to reflect on people whom I have not valued.
and then her eyes fully opened — blazed through with strands of mud