an ode to circus bruises
you browngreygreenpurplebluesometimesred
indication that a new skill has been unlocked
and unlocked
and unlocked again
continued practice making more marks
but eventually
in a week
or two
or month
or so
you’ll fade to skin
and the skill will be rote
and the bruises no longer pop up
because my body
now knows
that pose
and on to the next one
by KIPVENTURES
© All rights reserved 2022
bodhidharma stares at the wall
time ferments, goes sour like milk
it’s another air-raid warning
people go down to the shelter
people stare at a shabby wall
people drink up soured time
karma, you are a fucking bitch
by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2023
his ears shone redly in the setting of the sun
his puff of hair an orange, a halo of light
and the earthworms drowsed in a rusty can
at his feet, toes splayed and warmly pink
if only there’d been another minute
one more hour to append the day
a breath stolen beneath the moon
grasshoppers made their ruckus in the tall grass
stroking limbs to their wings like tiny violins
water shimmered with the scales of spotted bass
the line’s arc and plish was his blithesome song
if only there’d been another minute
one more hour to append the day
a breath stolen beneath the moon
and so everything breathed, full of bliss and love
in this treasured moment, my memory of him
we stared into the carefree summer clouds above
before they trammeled the horizon into sepulchral night
if only there’d been another minute
one more hour to append the day
a breath stolen beneath the moon
for our shine to outlast a little while
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2021
RIP Halloween. (For another year!)
unbolt me 