men are from mars, women are from peni—

he blabbed something like
her hair had phallic nature
in broken english
and boy was she offended!
she just had epilation

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2022

TATI’s & TONY’s DEAD POET TOUR // A Valentine [From A Very Little Boy To A Very Little Girl] by Arthur Macy

This is a valentine for you.
Mother made it. She’s real smart,
I told her that I loved you true
And you were my sweetheart.

And then she smiled, and then she winked,
And then she said to father,
“Beginning young!” and then he thinked,
And then he said, “Well, rather.”

Then mother’s eyes began to shine,
And then she made this valentine:
“If you love me as I love you,
No knife shall cut our love in two,”
And father laughed and said, “How new!”
And then he said, “It’s time for bed.”

So, when I’d said my prayers,
Mother came running up the stairs
And told me I might send the rhymes,
And then she kissed me lots of times.
Then I turned over to the wall
And cried about you, and – that’s all.

by ARTHUR MACY (1842-1904)
Public Domain Poetry

heartwood

bark on the old tree
i would become an artist
just to draw this bark
one day i will be a tree
one day i will feel better

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2023

the zenith of lilith

you placed your foot upon my shadow
resolutely stopped me leaving
so i’m asking why you won’t let me kiss you

every time you petal your thighs
all the angels commit suicide
a field of red puff shudderings
as far as the eye can see

you placed your foot upon my shadow
resolutely stopped me leaving
so i’m asking why you won’t let me know you

and whenever you peddle your lies
all the demons almost believe you
but i didn’t make it rain this time
so you cannot blame me

you placed your foot upon my shadow
resolutely stopped me breathing
so step off, bitch

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2022

GUEST POST // sustenance by Tremaine L. Loadholt

miss cooking for him
and on most days, for her, too
I cook anyway
energy needs assistance
I thrive on this love

by TREMAINE L. LOADHOLT
© All rights reserved 2022