"Those are moths leftover from the mother of all moth wars belly up in your sunroom." -Julie Doxsee, from Objects for a Fog Death

Diner

I wanted you to look at me, so I rustled my newspaper a bit. You didn’t look, so I took a loud sip of my orange juice. I then readjusted how I was sitting in my chair, and took off my shoes. You still didn’t look, so I played with my hair and cleared my throat. I cleared my throat because I needed to, though, because of the orange juice. You still didn’t notice. We both finished our morning routines and went on our usual morning walk, but you still wouldn’t look at me. I would even jump out in front of you and put my face in front of yours, but, always, at that very moment, a random friend would be to your right, and you would turn and say hello to them. Or, a plane would be flying over, and you would stare up at the sky, following it until it disappeared behind clouds. Or, you would notice your shoelace untied, and you would squat down and tie it. I decided to maybe just tap you on the shoulder, but, when I reached over, I tripped over a curb that was a bit larger than a normal curb, and collapsed behind you without touching you. You continued to walk. I turned and started walking back home. I saw Jerry on the way. Hey, Jerry, would you do me a favor I said. Sure thing, Emile he said. Could you just look at me, if only for a bit I said. What was that he said. He was looking at his car, which he was busy washing. He began spraying loudly, and shook his head, indicating that the conversation was over. I went home and went into the bathroom. I was going to look at myself in the mirror, but I noticed a dirty spot a bit above my head, and so I rubbed it off, and I walked out of the bathroom. I went to my bed. I closed my eyes, and I forgot if my limbs were still attached where they should be.

"Near Needing Yellow, from the before or after or close at hand." -Sawako Nakayasu, from Texture Notes

The Sea

When I walked out into my front yard, I noticed my neighbor, Theodore, watering his grass. I went and got my hose and began watering my grass. What are you doing he said. Watering my grass I said. But you don’t need to he said. You have an automatic sprinkler system. You have a lawn service spread fertilizer. You have people who come to cut it. You have, without a doubt, the nicest lawn on this block. You may have the nicest lawn in this town he said. I held onto my hose and looked at my lawn. He was right, it was nice color green, it was of a proper length; it looked strong, thick. A bird landed on it once, and the grass wrapped itself around the bird’s legs, and the bird sank in, leaving only a few feathers behind. Neighbor’s dogs disappear when they use my lawn as a bathroom. My lawn is a carnivorous murderer, and I can only watch helplessly as it grows stronger. I shudder to think if I had children. I suppose you’re right I said. Theodore nodded and shrugged. I nodded and shrugged. I put the hose down, and I lied down on my lawn, and I watched the evening sky, and I listened to Theodore whistle and water his safe lawn, and my back got wet and I smiled at the tingling feeling when you lie down in grass.

"A bright green apple being where my heart should." -Tao Lin, from You Are A Little Bit Happier Than I Am

Cheering

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the photo of the little blind fox. It was walking through snow, comically towards a tree. I can’t be sure that his fox instincts kicked in after the photo happened and he dodged the tree, or, like any other clumsy, blind thing, he simply ran into it, found his bearings, and continued on his journey. I showed one of my colleagues the photo. How do you know the fox is blind one said. By the way he stares into my eyes. I know he can’t see me I said. You’d better just get back to work one said. Isn’t it the most amazing photo, though I said. I took the photo home with me to show my wife, Doreen. Doreen looked at the photo as if it were a used tissue. How disgusting she said. What, the beautiful, blind, little fox I said. This is a photo of you from a few winters back, running through the snow blindfolded she said. I looked at the photo, and the fox had taken its blindfold off, and was looking at me with a knowing look. I ran into the tree the look said.

"I don't want to leave the moon. No one wants to fight to the death here." -Mathias Svalina, from Destruction Myth

Misaligned

There was a tornado headed toward us, but we didn’t want that to spoil our walk. We hadn’t gone on a nice walk for days, and stress from work was building, and we wouldn’t have any free time for another week or two, and, by that time, the stress would probably kill us, so this walk was absolutely necessary. The hail was a bit annoying. It felt like we were being shot by bb gun pellets, all from above us, all hundreds of them. Our clothes were soaked from the rain, but it had been a hot day before, so we were pleased about that. I’m afraid that we’ll die in the tornado you yelled to me. Which tornado I yelled. You yelled something else, but I couldn’t hear it at that point, over the roar of the tornado. We were getting hit by bits of debris, and taking the smallest of steps became impossible. You gripped my hand as we were flung into the air. We held together and did a strange, violent dance in the wind. We sat at the bar and I bought you a drink. We bought bb guns and shot them at targets shaped like the tops of our heads. I was blinded by the wind, but I could hear you all the while, howling like wind does, and I could feel your hands throwing me around. Outside, I could hear birds. This walk did us good.

"Animals learn to hollow grow wary & withhold their math from us." -Joshua Marie Wilkinson, from Selenography

Artificial Grass

Laying in bed

with the smell

of that old carpet

you spilled milk on

when you were young

lingering

with that stuffed toy dog

that followed you

as fast as it’s plush

little feet let it

with the two parrots

that sang you lullabies

that brought tears

to their own eyes

you sit up and realize

that you’ve never spilled milk

or that you never did get

that toy dog or the two parrots

as presents and you realize

you can’t sleep

then you sleep

"Directing the traffic of crows and their shadows." -Charles Simic, from The Voice at 3:00 A.M.

Ideals

I was poisoned. I couldn’t believe it when it happened, after the lengths I took to avoid something like that. It was either the glass of water, or the blueberry pancakes, or the bacon, either strip, or, it could have been all of those. An hour after breakfast I felt the poison metabolize in my guts and work it’s way through my system. By noon, I had started sweating and pacing, thinking about nothing but poisonous snakes and spiders, and wondering which poison was used on me. I wondered if it attacked my central nervous system. I wondered which motor function would go first. I wondered if it had already begun, and I just didn’t notice yet. I went to the bookstore and bought some volumes of medical journals, a book on poisons used by indigenous tribes in South America, and a funny book of poison-related jokes that caught my eye while walking to the register. When I got home, I told my wife one of the jokes. Oh, and, by the way, I’ve been poisoned, and I’m not sure when I’ll die I said. Really, and after the lengths you take to avoid things like that my wife said. It’s been years since then. I got the promotion, despite my ailment, with my charming knowledge of poison-related jokes. I traveled to South America and lived with a tribe for a month. There, they have this saying that has something to do with poison and souls. I’m not sure what it is, exactly, but I feel privileged to be part of something like that. I can’t wait till the day I forget how to blink.

"I should put on tighter shorts for a new perspective." -Matthew Rohrer, from A Plate of Chicken

Strength

I bumped into Patricia in the busy street. Oh, wow, I barely recognized you I said. That’s because I don’t know you she said. Right, but, well, I suppose I thought that you would have looked different I said. Patricia looked around the street. I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else she said. Of course, but look at how you’ve grown up. It’s been years I said. We have never met before she said. Patricia, it’s me, Allan I said. My name is Mary she said. We stared at each other for a moment. People kept brushing past us, all on their own missions. Cars drove by, and some of the drivers glanced at us. Should we go grab a coffee and catch up I said. Patricia put her hands on my shoulder, and leant close to my ear. Let’s call it grabbing a coffee and talking about all the lifetimes we’ve had apart from one another she said. I nodded gravely. She took my hand, and we began walking behind a group of people, all of them hurried. The last person of the group turned to us. I don’t recognize you two he said. He turned back, and began walking a bit faster.

"Get yourself a pie and someone let them wave goodbye." -Seth Landman, from The Wild Hawk the Sea

Orchard

I walk outside as the snow melts

the insides of my shoes soak

a bird forgets how to fly

and falls from the sky

in the most graceful

looping dive

on the horizon a figure stands

alone but with wolves all around

all holding balloons from the fair

chasing one another

somebody punches me

in my chest

somebody else kisses me

on the forehead

I always realize I like it all

once it's too late

"Actual crows carrying the soul away." -Zachary Schomburg, from The Man Suit

Crowd

I was getting nervous. Are you traitor I said. The person sitting across the table from me shook his head “no,” and was perspiring a bit around his forehead. Are you the traitor he said. I shook my head “no,” and started fidgeting with my silverware. This is a nice restaurant I said. Oh, by far, one of the best he said. I’m just not sure if I’ll be able to eat, what, with that traitor on the loose I said. The person shook their head gravely in agreement. From the booth behind me, I heard a muffled whisper. The person must have noticed it, too, because he was looking to the right of my head, behind me, quite alarmed. It was the traitor. After all the search parties, all the helicopter chases, after all of the army involvement, television announcements, search-dog barking, rewards, and false positives, here was the traitor, sitting in the flesh and blood, enjoying some meal I could smell, but wouldn’t dare to look and see what it was. I heard the traitor’s leather seat squeaking as he moved around, and, before the person or I could protest, he had joined us at our booth. Hey, Steve. Hey, James the traitor said. I felt weak. Hey, Dave I said. Don’t speak to him; you could be an accessory now the person said. We paid for our untouched meals, and left the restaurant. It was a cloudless, mild day, so, the three of us decided to go on a walk in the park. The trees were changing color, but because of the drought. We could hear sirens in the distance, but, with that traitor on the loose, there was always some sort of siren going off, and it was difficult to tell the difference between another siren and the howl of the wind. We took the hiking path to the overlook of the town. We watched the sun set, there, in silence. Our old friend, Dave, was gone, and James and I didn't know whether to feel grief, or to feel happy for our last day.

"Something has to leave a mark so I shape-of-an-X you." -Zachary Schomburg and Emily Kendal Frey, from Ok, Goodnight

Seasons

The prison guards came into my cell and asked me if I was ready to confess. Never, you pigs I said. This hurt the guards’ feelings, so one held me in place, while the other hit me in the stomach with the butt of his rifle. I keeled over. They asked then if I was ready to confess yet. I laughed and spit some blood onto their shiny, black shoes. They told me the warden thought this would be the way I reacted. They told me the warden wanted to see me. They picked me up and dragged me out of my cell, and all the other prisoners hooted and hollered for me, and banged against the bars of their own cells. I was their hero for never confessing, even after every one of them had. We were all in on the same crime. At the warden’s office, I was told to sit down in the nice leather chair in front of the warden’s desk. The warden told the guards to leave us, and they did. Peter, why are you doing this, why won’t you just confess the warden said. Wilson, you know I can never confess to that I said. How did you know my name the warden said. I know all about you, Wilson I said. I know all about you and your confessions. The warden looked at me for a moment. Well, Peter, maybe there’s some sort of agreement we can reach the warden said, your confession for the freedom of you and all your cohorts. That would be the entire prison I said. We sat and stared at each other. The warden’s eyes were glazed over, and he looked as if his mind was in another world, calling for him to join. We were both rabbits down a hole, but the warden didn’t realize this. He thought he was a warden, that we were in a prison, that there were prisoners and guards. We were all just rabbits, cold from the winter and hiding from wolves. I could never confess that to him.

"Every night she waits, she's food for death." -Kristin Naca, from Bird Eating Bird

Emperor

I started building my boat for the fast approaching flood out of back issues of newspapers and twigs. Jason tells me that my boat will never work, that it’s too frail, but he’s making his own boat out of stones, so what does he know. Melissa looked up how to make a boat on the internet, and it looks pretty nice, but it’s miniature. I’m not sure when she will realize that she couldn’t possibly fit in it. We all get together for dinner every night, and give each other updates on how our boats are going. I found a nice, big piece of sandstone. It will make a fine addition for the hull Jason says. I’m almost finished with my boat, but all the little strings that attach to the sails are so little and complicated, I’m afraid my big fingers are too clumsy to place them correctly Melissa says. I sprinkled dust on my boat for insulation, and it made me sneeze I say. We all nod at each other approvingly, but we all secretly think about how little the others know about boat making. This has been going on for years. We’re not sure when that fast approaching flood was supposed to hit. When one of us asks another when they think the flood will come, we always say tomorrow, and we always truly believe that, and we always truly would like to drown in it, if it means we can stay with our boats.

"The shadows, under the tower, in the most brilliant sun will get us nowhere too." -John Berryman, from The Dream Songs

Water Buffalo

As the plane reached it’s cruising altitude, I sat back in my seat, trying not to brush my arm against the person next to me. The person next to me kept glancing over towards me. I noticed this as I kept glancing over towards him. Hey there, my name is Carl the person said. I pretended not to notice and looked out the window. We were heading straight for a wall of cloud. Carl’s the name, how’s it going the person said, lightly tugging at my sleeve. I reached into my backpack and pulled out a magazine about cars. Oh, so I see you like cars the person said. I put that magazine away, and pulled out a magazine about current events. Ah, that revolution is quite terrible; so many lost lives. We entered the wall of cloud with a bit of turbulence, but quickly leveled off. I was sitting by the wing, but I couldn’t see the wing anymore. Carl next to me kept speaking at me, but his words were getting softer and softer. I’m from Albuquerque, my wife’s name is Lynette, we have some dogs, I’m a fence salesman, this trip is business for me, biggest sale of… until I couldn’t hear him anymore. I couldn’t hear the whir of the plane anymore. I looked over towards Carl, but he was slowly fading away. Everything around me was going white like cloud, until there was nothing but whiteness, and complete silence. Here, a shadow came and sat next to me. We talked about current events. We talked about the revolution. We were sitting, but we were upside down, or that’s how my head felt. I missed Carl.

"An egg was hatching in my hand, the egg of an otter. Otters don't lay eggs, but I was starving." -James Tate, from The Ghost Soldiers

Calling it Quits

As we fell into rank, I clutched my family photo behind my back and shuddered for a moment. The general came in and began his address to prepare us. Many of us may not make it today, but we will all be brave, and those who die, die with an honor. He was pacing back and forth along the long line of us, but, at me, he stopped. Why are you shuddering he said. No reason, sir I said. What is that behind your back he said as he craned his neck towards my right side. Nothing nothing nothing I said as he grabbed the photo. He stared at it for a few moments. What the hell is this he said. My family, sir I said. This is a picture of moths on a streetlamp he said. I’m a moth, sir I said. He looked my moth body up and down. I can’t believe nobody noticed before he said. I’d still like to serve my country, sir I said, but it’s beginning to rain, and I’m afraid my wings will be of no use. The general stood still for a long while, for the first time in his long military career, truly stumped. The rest of the soldiers began shifting from foot to foot and moving their arms, as if they didn’t know a comfortable position for them to hang by how they were attached. The general sensed their unrest. You’ll be brave, and we’ll all be brave, wings or not he said. He ordered us to go, and so we went, very bravely.

"It took me months to trace myself back to myself as I'm my own father and mother." -Natalie Lyalin, from Try a Little Time Travel

Hangar

As the rain clouds move

over my expansive garden

I think good and watch as

the drops begin to fall

and it’s then that I notice

the plants bobbing up and down

all in unison to some sort of

ancient beat that I can’t quite hear

and I wished that I could just

hear it and I start to move

to what I think it may be

but this feels strange to do

in front of my family

so I go out into the rain

and join the plants

and attempt their bobbing movement

and my neighbors all look

out of their windows

and slowly shake their heads

seemingly in unison but

it’s no matter I think

that I’ve found it so I laugh

hysterically and spin and

spin until I fall and it’s then

that I notice the moths

under the leaves of each

of the plants one per leaf

all beating beating their wings

and all telling me to be quite

and my neighbors pity me

while I'm busy pitying them

"I want the orange juice to quickly evaporate and take me with it." -Tao Lin, from You Are A Little Bit Happier Than I Am

Advantages

As I walked down the road

everything behind me went dark

at first I noticed this

as somebody breathing down my neck

and I would take quick looks

at the darkness making sure

not to move my head at all

and as I reached my house

I waved to my neighbor who

disappeared instantly

I walked up my stairs

and lied down on my bed

erasing the entire world behind me

and the darkness surrounded the bed

and it’s then that I began to feel

a slight discomfort in my stomach

and I fell asleep wondering about

all that I had eaten that day

"A hotel in which one tangos in silence...In which children confide in imaginary friends." -Charles Simic, from The Voice at 3:00 AM

Barking in the Dark

I tried to travel through time

by clenching my fists

and kicking my legs

and closing my eyes

as hard as I could

and holding my breath

and I wanted to go back

to that day when I learned

about time travel

because it wasn’t until then

that I figured out about memories

and that to change them

time travel would be necessary

and I got up

after my another failed attempt

and I walked to my room

and I shut my door

and I sat down in my chair

and put my legs up

and put my arms

behind my head

and it was then that I figured out

that memories aren’t anything

more than thoughts and that

thoughts aren’t anything more

than putting my arms

behind my head

and why don’t you sit like me

on no chair

in no room

with no door

"My shoes are on the wrong feet, or so it seems to me now." -James Tate, from The Ghost Soldiers

Layers

I went to the end of my street

and laid on my back

and pulled my knees

in to my chest

and put my arms

around my knees

and placed my head

between my knees

and began rolling forward

down my street

and most didn’t know

whether to laugh or cry

but most ended up following

me out of confusion

and most told me to hurry

to which I said no I’m waiting

and so you must hurry

to which most said

no actually I’m waiting

"I can tell you things I'm not a piece of foam." -Heather Christle, from the Seaside!

Synchronized

And we all eat

all of our children

one day

or all of our children

eat all of us there

is no real difference

because we all cry

when this happens

and we put decorative rugs

on walls secretly

in hopes to walk our muddy

feet on walls and build to

precipices

and we tell our neighbors

to turn on all their lights

and they tell us

to turn on ours

and we form a community

that way by

making it so bright

we forget the stars

and people walk down

our streets feeling

very safe we all

feel very safe

"There is nothing looming in the world like snow on the hill in the air." -Seth Landman, from The Wild Hawk the Sea

Procedure

I went out hunting for you

while you went out hunting

for me in the taller than wide

skyscrapered city and most

people were alarmed to see us

carrying rifles and wearing

sunhats but I assured them

that it was all right we are

in the Serengeti and there are lions

and this amused the businessmen

and I climbed the tallest

building in the heart of the city

and I found you at the top

or you found me first

and we both roared like lions

and pointed our rifles

at each other and shot at

the exact same time and the

bullets collided headfirst into

each other so we reloaded

and shot again and the same thing

happened and this went on

until we ran out of bullets

and we complimented each other

on our hunting prowess

then put on suit jackets and suit

pants and tossed our sunhats

off the top of this tallest building

and we like to think that

the hats landed on some

businessmen’s heads and that

this amused them

"When the uniformed masses arrive and start blowing, measure the sway, if any." -Sawako Nakayasu, from Texture Notes

Feeling All Right

Each piece of me

that falls off of me

is more vital than the last

like starting with hair

and nails and working

its way up to feet

and hands and arms

always progressing

until I’m yelling

and I feel ridiculous

for yelling

like being in a cage

dropped into cold water

how is it possible

to feel so hot

when you feel so cold

and I wonder when it is

exactly that I stop being me

and when your bottom lip

trembles slightly

that’s the feeling

you should hold on to