Poetry by Ralph La Rosa This winter night two fugitives from Jackson Prison rob his store out in suburbs where he lives, blind and bind him, knock him out, stuff him on their Dodge’s floor, and drive him north for Canada. They startle him awake before the border, yank him out, unblind his eyes. He’sContinue reading “A Long Walk”
Tag Archives: poem
Honor Thy Father
Poetry by Ralph La Rosa Ray’s father groaned: In the store, below the petty cash drawer. Bring it to me. Hurry. Before they all come home. Ray raced to the store and back— to lightning’s cracking thunder to hail stones pelting limbs of acorn-bleeding oak trees and shivering rooftop tiles. As green wood hissed inContinue reading “Honor Thy Father”
His Funeral
Poetry by Ralph La Rosa Leaning close, Frank whispers urgently,“You shoulda wore a black suit, this’s navy,”not the first to remind Vic as old guys squeezehis hand until it hurts. Black suits and ties. Frank hangs on tight, face angry, sad and sorry:“Your dad’s partner, Tony, he’s insulting him.”Vic had quit the seminary, assured hisContinue reading “His Funeral”
Another
A Poem by Chris Bunton Another one is gone. A friend, family, a piece of my life and the fabric of the world; gone to where? They are dead before the time. Another one murdered by the party life. What is wrong with us? We give everything just to escape, and have that buzz.Continue reading “Another”
The Ride
By Hillary Lyon conversation traveled alongthe Möbius strip of her mindshe took the sharp curves fastwith no seat belts or air bags you unlocked the glove-box of her heartfound it stuffed with crayon scrawled mapscandy wrappers six shinybullets and a warm pistol red and blue lights flashedin the mirror of her mouthtoss care out theContinue reading “The Ride”
Peace Profit
by Jimmy Boom Semtex Peace Profit Made in a country near you Things to do a job What type of job? To heal to kill to create to destroy All in the ACME factory Ready steady go get to work! Fulfill your shift Do your quota Finish the order yesterday There’s much work to beContinue reading “Peace Profit”
Lady Gangster
By Jimmy Boom Semtex Lady Gangster Tickle tickle kiss kiss girl over there The one carrying the pistol and a grin With locks to die for looks to kill A real lady kill you without blinking Manchester’s finest gangster woman Finest in the hood no wannabe here Take a photo of her she’s famous AsContinue reading “Lady Gangster”
Teresa
By Jimmy Boom Semtex teresa was a gun fighter armed to the hilt with black teeth from chewing tobacco carrying a forty five on each hip each locked loaded ready to go shooting lazy white men who wanted to fuck bonk shag have possess her those big fat slugs whacked them down like dead dogsContinue reading “Teresa”
Tell Me a Story
By Hillary Lyon Tell Me a Story, She Said, Make it a mystery. So I concocted a tale,a cocktail concerninga private plane, a stowaway,a debris field. A secret affair, a radical manifesto,a tiny rhythmic beeping.Red numbers tumbling downlike crisp autumn leaves. A smug politico, a movie mogul,a sex slave.I was not a slave, she corrected.IContinue reading “Tell Me a Story”
Jane Doe #13
By Don Thompson Not every killer is all in.Some drop the bloody weaponand run (not far)without stopping to wipe off fingerprints,as if wanting to be caught. Some sit down and wait for the cops. Some saran wrap their victimsand freeze them—clingers who discard nothing.Or want time to decidewhere to expose the meatand let it thaw.Continue reading “Jane Doe #13”