for sanity’s sake

here between the seasons
the drought & hoped for rains
how on earth we prevail is
a puzzle for analytical minds
we try one smile on at a time

one smile at a time
to keep that sultry darkness at bay
one smile at a time
but perhaps today is not that day
mayhap i wish to sluttily lay
in disarray like i belong
& die erelong

but life goes on
while i whore myself to ruination
& smile along with the twee
their cock-a-hoop clarity in
hopes that we might cohabitate
in peace between drought & rain

& life goes on
one smile at a time

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025

grow a spine

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