Why are bathrooms in New York always cold? In winter, even the bathroom supplies huddle under the sink, and are of no use. Not that big of a problem to those with warm bathrooms and hot towels but just think about it— what’s worse than pulling down your pants bladder about to burst, and thatContinue reading “Lady’s Lament”
Tag Archives: free verse
What Ever Happened to the Meatpacking District?
You listen to classical music and to the cars which seem to carry the melodies of Moonlight Sonata right before your very ears. Even the construction workers beat in time. You remember a time that seems not so long ago, the goofy glasses from New Years Eve in year 2000, which seem ancient now alongContinue reading “What Ever Happened to the Meatpacking District?”
El Vampiro
I come to your house looking for you but find only your middle child seeking visions. I call you by your given name. You do not come out. The doors are unlocked and a mangey bird sits by the window you left open. It says, Camp out overnight! for surely the man enamored by darknessContinue reading “El Vampiro”
Sitting in the Park with You
O blood how could you be so apparent? Is it an Indian summer or the lover to my side, or— I pause to cover my head still, hands bluish a colony of blue a sky of breath beneath my gaze—the taste of my tranquil heart.
Three Plants
At the risk of being broken, they grow together. One breathes, one yellows, one takes up the sun yellowing without noticing. I have thought, on occasion of clipping one, leaving a clean machete tree stump just to see if one grows longer just to see if the one grows back.
Love Note
Peck on you, Rosa where are you anyway? two missed phone calls & the passing of days Ready to hurt yourself? Ready to hurt yourself again? Honey, don’t fall in love is really what he meant. That little avant guard-ista tasty like a pizza winsome winds beneath her coattails, and charm like starry-eyed minnows inContinue reading “Love Note”
Abecedarius in 26 Words (& Change)
Alabastrine, beauteous, careful daylight, ebbing. For gallant headwinds include juridical knowledge, lyrical mastery, & no place (for) quivering, reticent shadows. Tu último viento: (a) wayward, xerophytic young zephyr— Also published here: https://theamericanscholar.org/and-be-careful-darling/#.WjKobrbMwWo
Rags to Riches
How simple it must be, the life of a rock ignoring the pulse of the tick and the tock forgetting which dirty magazine it took to read in bed in lieu of a book. A rock with no shoes, no sandal, nor boot Not even a rambling foot— Like an artist, it has no needContinue reading “Rags to Riches”
Sidewalk Chalk
i. Every Thursday afternoon I watch you play the playground. You climb the bars and twist the swings singing pop songs with mostly your own words. ii. Last Thursday, I brought a box of sidewalk chalk and we bent our necks making a blue and orange mandala. You had never known that these wereContinue reading “Sidewalk Chalk”
Berlin
She rides a borrowed bike between Berlin streets and graffiti piles– the sky is gray, but not sad, and all day it will not rain, though it could have whenever it wanted to. She arches her back for better posture, but the clouds are rather heavy. Left down Schönhouser Allee left the map at homeContinue reading “Berlin”
Virginia Valenzuela 