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

the moment before she smiles

just call me by name
make me turn swiftly around
lift my lowered hood
beneath a leaky awning
make us blab till the rain ends

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2022

GUEST POST // A Change by Spahr Plops

Don’t let gray
get grayer
graver could go
but I hope for
a reddy heady
bun babble about
anything peelable like
clementine counters

She set a coaster
and a cup of sweet
southern, lime over
lemon – already had
freshly started morning
sips of perky breath
blown my way

My direction
eventually persuaded
realized wrongful waste
thanks to her taste
full of ambiance

But mostly smiled then
because she said
“Don’t be such an ass”

by SPAHR PLOPS
© All rights reserved 2015