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- the last corona virgin
Get thee behind me,
COVID. You shall not cross this
masked face, these washed hands.
- we report, you comply
When a news network
lies to you all day, all night,
it’s brainwash city.
- we’ve already moved on
The mass shootings of
today are forgotten long
before the blood dries.
- a focus on the numbers
She cared more about
the target, even taking
unhealthy chances.
- parton the interruption
Philanthropist, song-
writer, angel, a hell of
a businesswoman.
- non-stop flow
Time flies, or it creeps
in this petty pace. But it
always goes forward.
- saturday at the costco
A warehouse filled with
shoppers in a frenzy for
discount bulk salmon.
- patriotic pickins
What American
boy hasn’t tried Rice Krispie
treats? It’s in our blood.
- brigade of helpers
They made the most of
the day by installing the
laminate wood floor.
- belabor day
Quiet quitting. The
Great Resignation. Looks like
labor fighting back.
- probably not
Does this poem make
you angry or question all
your base assumptions?
- the new skate park
The boys made up new
tricks as they glided and jumped
and fell on each curve.
- waiting for da dough
The bakery line
stretched 20-people deep as
aromas wafted.
- secret identity
My mind wanders as
we exchange pleasantries: Where
do I know you from?
- bugging in
Vaccinated and
boosted (twice!) and I still caught
coronavirus.
- tiresome
They spent their weekend
nights peeling out in circles
while evading cops.
- some is forgiven
The crushing weight of
student loans becomes somewhat
lighter in a snap.
- there’s always community college
Education is
too precious to let any
yokel in the door.
- can’t spell ‘ain’t’ without ai
Listen up, nerds: I
don’t need no algorithm
to decide my fate.
- penalty boxed
It’s quite a racket
that the government has when
it comes to bounced checks.
- groundhog century
Does history make
progress ever, or are we
stuck in a time loop?
- concert under the stars
A warm summer’s eve
as the bluegrass band takes the
stage before a crowd.
- generation gaffe
Should we really know
TikTok and Dua Lipa
and “Euphoria”?
- alternative school
Either for the real
geniuses or criminal-
ly inclined or both?
- debt-free me
I owe nothing to
nobody, and that’s how it’s
gonna stay for now.
- getting adult braces
Just like teenage years,
the metal braces steer these
wayward ancient teeth.
- calendar vs. climate
Will the blazing heat
of endless summer ever
make room for fall leaves?
- food is love
Every morsel a
hug, every calorie a
blessing. Food is love.
- meme economy
We’re cranking them out
just as fast as possible.
Demand is so high.
- cash free is the way to be
This venue accepts
only credit and debit
cards. As God insists.
- power naps
I lie down on a
pad to recharge myself. So
does my dead smartphone.
- palpable bitterness
Life’s too short to let
bygones be bygones. Embrace
the darkness within.
- brownie à la mode
Ever dream of a
dessert only to have it
come true? Life is sweet.
- the version in my head
Is canon. Ships the
best twosomes. Blows the effects
budget. Has endings.
- zzz’s please
Sleep, a miracle
drug that heals fatigue and a
large set of ailments.
- lizard in the house
How did you get in
here, little guy, and why are
you up on the wall?
- droughts, fires, floods and debris
The weather tells us
in hurricanes and heat waves:
Climate change is real.
- ragin’ contagion
The pandemic is
not over for millions of
vulnerable folks.
- mortified on a daily basis
Thinking of little
else than stupid screwups from
20 years ago.
- fall festival season
Bring on the art and
exotic foods and music
and cooler weather.
- homecoming haze
Let the alumni
wander the halls and look back
on their good ol’ days.
- the selfish friend
Always ready with
the wrong sentiment or the
discouraging word.
- the bad boss
He berates as he
breathes, heaping scorn on the ones
he hired for work.
- have you tried dried fruits?
Like a kind of food
parody where no one’s in
on the spicy joke.
- daylight saving forever
At some point, we’ll stop
setting clocks back and live with
brighter days ahead.
- the last half-season i forgot to watch
I will probably
never go back to see what
happened to my buds.
- the pool is closed
Hang up the swim trunks.
Clear out the leaves and put on
the safety cover.
- working the stadium concession stand
Band kids and their folks
shovel popcorn and serve hot
dogs to raise money.
- fruity fondness
Gimme those hand pies
straight from fryer or oven.
Let me burn my mouth.
- yelling, gesturing, repeating
Talking in vain while
listening to the band play
deafeningly loud.
- shaky knees
Standing upright one
minute, feeling woozy the
next minute. What gives?
- reno woes
The contractor was
supposed to start the project
sometime last Thursday.
- home sweet home office
A place to pay the
bills, write novels and hide from
the whole family.
- odd hours
Have breakfast at noon,
nap around dinnertime, go
to sleep at sunrise.
- the hazing ritual
Get beaten over
and over because it’s how
we always do things.
- the little farm stand
Minnie and Jed run
the place, showing off their fresh
produce and hay bales.
- everyone has a price
Can you be bought? Are
your scruples for sale? Are you
unimpeachable?
- fundamental telepathy
Do we really want
to know what people say when
we are not around?
- waisted
These pants used to fit
me fine. Now they remind me
not to have dessert.
- all dressed up
A night on the town
with my lady starts with fine
fashion and footwear.
- candy shopping
Cheapest? Full bars? The
kind we like to nibble on?
Pennies and raisins?
- waiting in the er
Not enough staff but
plenty of patients sweating
it out for hours.
- in a dark alley
All he remembered
of the mugging was the gun
pointed in his face.
- magic in the air
The witches’ ball has
ghoulish fun, cheap scares and a
VIP section.
- potheads not prisoners
When will this country’s
criminalization of
marijuana end?
- the spirit of all hallows’ eve
We scare ourselves to
feel alive, to face our fears,
to know true horror.
- death takes a holiday
Honoring those who’ve
passed with fond remembrances,
lovely ofrendas.
- candyland
Off to the stores to
rack up half-price chocolates
and various sweets.
- the servers left behind
A restaurant can
only run short staffed for so
long before it fails.
- what they did to get into college
The little dumdums
made up activities and
had others take tests.
- what they did to get into college, part 2
They relied on the
worst stereotypes to dress
up their normal lives.
- hour hands are tied
An extra hour
to set all the clocks inside
and outside the house.
- the opening act
A band, not quite as
famous, but good enough for
the show’s early birds.
- democracy at stake
A referendum
on the integrity of
our own elections.
- the human purse
Pockets for keys and
gum, debit cards and lip balm
and whatever else.
- southern snafus
Birmingham traffic:
280 sucks. Atlanta
traffic: Hold my beer.
- veterans day … special?
Can we offer more
than discounts and fanfare to
those who served our land?
- fall shower
Brilliant leaves of gold
and red and orange drifting down
from audacious heights.
- at the marcus king show
A fan collapses.
Security guards surround.
CPR started.
- shut out at the bakery. twice.
Surprise! Doors are locked.
Why hast thou forsaken me,
Google? I believed.
- learning indian menus
Try a new dish and
record it in the log book.
Slow but rewarding.
- first day on the job
Report to HR
to fill out paperwork and
show my ID cards.
- a taste of sushi
She timidly tried
a bite, processing the smell,
texture and flavor.
- the idlest boy in alabama
Staring at the clock,
waiting on an assignment,
ready for nothing.
- beating hiv
Not just unlocking
the treatment, but also a
preventative shot.
- the algorithm of crime
New patterns based on
old ones that oppress, detain
and discriminate.
- a ball of stress
Unable to sit
still and relax, waiting for
the worst to happen.
- bracing for family
Here come the in-laws
and relations to invade
our houses. Deep breaths.
- thank you consequence
It’s a healthy thing
practicing gratitude … makes
you less of a dick.
- foodie holiday
Gimme that pumpkin
pie, that gravy boat, some of
that homemade dressing.
- the 15-hour pot roast
Every check on the
slow cooker lets out heat so
it’s even slower.
- the late night visitor
She snuck in through the
dimly lit corridors to
tuck in beside him.
- an ode to recruiters
Ready to sign you
up, ready to size you up,
gone just as quickly.
- worth a thousand words
A beaming smile bursts
forth from the images of
our nights on the town.
- debt free is the way to be
No more house or car
payments, credit card interest
or old student loans.
- volunteering for the wrong reasons
Doesn’t matter as
long as you put more good and
giving in the world.
- the truth is paywalled but the lies are free
Paywalled sites bear the
fruit of investigative
journalism, so …
- beyond heartbreak
Even after we
oust them, abusive exes
continue their harm.
- oh and dumbledore’s gay
Representation
after the fact shows a lack
of author backbone.
- personal pillow valet
She brought her own to
sleep more soundly, tossing the
old ones from the bed.
- beyond boundaries
If we don’t set them,
we handle relationships
at our own peril.
• • •
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