ollie your halo off the ground
‘fore they see it’s slipped from your crown
do it with your winged heels
do it before the night reveals
they consider you a sidekick
you can lose their trust in one click
so stash your tacky aureole
and let them think you’re an asshole
you never wanted to be an angel
but rather a devil lewd and baneful
no one cared what your soul blooms for
‘fore shoving you onto god’s waiting womb floor
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2021
“No, I won’t have a Happy New Year!” she declared defiantly.
Santa shrugged. “As you wish.”
The child swung her legs restlessly as he scratched his long white beard in contemplation.
“How crappy would you like it to be then?”
Her legs stopped. She began to squirm on Santa’s knee, fixing him with a quizzical eye.
“Oh, you’d like it to be agonisingly bad?” Santa lifted her off. “I understand, child. And you can stop creasing up my magic pants.” He placed the girl on the store carpet. “The elves spent all night ironing them out, you know!”
Wish granted!
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2021
no one cares in this world of tyrants
of sycophants and bended knee
how deep goes the well inside of me
and if my bucket is full of holes
the finger of god daubed my soul o’er pain
and it’s making me want to dissolve again
into blest relief from his violent ways
away from nephilim and the sons of earth
i swear the day will come
when y’all will forget about me
for too long have i given life
the benefit of the doubt
the ox and horse cannot eat the hay
dead baby jesus bestrews the manger
a doggerel gospel for the hateful pious
and mongrels returning to their vomit
i swear the day will come
when y’all had better forget about me
for too long have i given life
the benefit of the doubt
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2022
what’s hidden behind the shabby black cover?
stories about a villain or a long lost lover?
scuffs and scratches like a palm’s ley lines
threatening mysteries and ominous signs
what’s hidden within the worn ivory pages?
tales of baby killings or long lived sages?
rustles and whispers foretelling the past
flaxen foundations beneath moments vast
a forbidden fruit is often the sweetest one
and the most sinful deeds often much more fun
so, how does one not yield to the temptation
to circumvent the usual pedestrian damnation?
hold your breath like an anchor and jump off that cliff
all book learning and vice yearning has a beguiling whiff
it draws out the courage needed to forge ahead and discover
so you’ll find all that’s hidden behind the shabby black cover
* Dedicated to all the souls out there waiting to be unbolted or unscrewed. May your 2022 be free-spirited and full of cool adventures!
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2021
I studied my Christmas tree, not comprehending what was wrong with it. Something was off.
I circumnavigated it like a fretful boat on a sea that was too calm—as if expecting a kraken to suddenly breach its briny surface.
Everything was there. Shiny garlands. Christmas balls. Even a ruby star on top! So… what gave?
Then I looked at the wall. My calendar read May 23rd. I considered this… and took the calendar down.
I adjusted one of the balls then got on with my day. Who cared about dates when I was in a perfect New Year’s mood?
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2021
unbolt me 