I believe that if we were to remove one element of this poem—–whether the rainwater, chickens, or wheelbarrow—-all of us would die. The universe would be all wrong.

a matter of where you are a rainbow

Joseph Salvatore Aversano

The grandpa’s cuckoo clock here in Rzeszów could strike 1:00 a.m. sharp.
A random clock there in Buffalo might be exactly six hours behind.
Just one cup of espresso could give a decent caffeine kick.
A big mug of sencha green tea might cool down almost unnoticeably.
The very first ‘ma-ma’ could fill two loving hearts with sheer delight.
A shooting star might namelessly fade away in the dark and cloudy sky.
A few slow steps to the top of Mount Everest could be taken.
One careless move might cause a rapid fall towards the terminal station.
A question about the sense of this while could finally grow up.
One of the possible answers might be given so as to spell it out.

the time
to read this
was to read this

Rafał Zabratyński

A battered, straggle-haired man, blazoned blue with tatts, boards our free city-loop bus. Eyes on high beam, facing the long, rubbered aisle, he searches for an empty seat. Feet stutter up the centre. A forefinger touches, wraps hard about a post, keeping his body still against the vehicle’s jerking. He holds for a while. Sinks into the fabric. Pokers to attention. Zeroes in on the bus’s monitor in a glass-glaze stare. Three stops later, he unwinds his whippet-thin body, trudges to the bus door. I imagine him shuffling to a shadowed space beside an illuminated shopfront.

weeds gone to seed
over the garden path—
broken journey

Tony Steven Williams

A young girl in shorts and heels knocks on the passenger window.
The window goes goes down and she leans into the car, more makeup then face.
“Looking for some company?”

a special presentation
of violet eyes
no tangible rewards

Gary Hittmeyer

Coronal mass ejections unseen and unheard provide complimentary x-rays for all on this blessed beach. Radio waves tune to an alternate frequency, while technicians succumb to the undertow of neutrons. Bacon sizzles in the fire pit. A line of solar flares lead the way for all walkers and wayward souls…

passing through us
into a soft matrix
devoid of activity

Gary Hittmeyer

ANTI-VIRAL DANDELION SOUP:
–Dandelion greens, thoroughly washed
–1-2 cloves fresh garlic
–1 tablespoon finely diced fresh ginger
–Soup base, stock, or bullion (to taste)
Instructions: Bring to a boil; then turn down heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. Note: Don’t spray your lawns to remove dandelions. Dandelions are medicine! We dump enough toxic substances into the environment. Give your lawns, bees, and stray cats a break!

ANTI-VIRAL NO BAKE COOKIES:
–1 cup raw* honey (anti-viral)
–½ cup coconut oil (anti-viral)
–½ cup cocoa powder (antioxidants)
–1 cup nut butter of choice (nut butter + oats = a complete protein)
–3 cups quick oats (nut butter + oats = a complete protein)
–1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions: Mix wet ingredients. Mix in oats. Spoon into cookie shapes and chill until hardened. *Raw honey has medicinal properties heated honey may lack. Note: Don’t feed babies under 1-year of age honey. Their digestive systems are underdeveloped, and it may kill them!

Anna Cates

Wrapped around your finger, like a towel around an agitator. Lost my glasses in the dishwasher looking for you. The blow-dryer went out with a bang and now my hair has powder burns. The dining room light is out and I can’t see what I am eating. Tastes like sawdust anyway.

belching and smoking
with a purpose…
chimney sweep

The traffic light said GO; smash! The insurance company raised my rates to see if I bleed. All this from a fortune-teller who asked me how I was going to get home. Found my toupee in the lint trap. You never liked it anyway. If only I could borrow enough money to live like a lottery winner, there would be more cheese in the fridge. Our dirty laundry is on the clothesline. When will the cows come home? All I know is if you add detergent, and put quarters in the slot, I’ll spin like a top with bubbles until the laundry mat is closed.

Kama Sutra Blues…
Maytag hiring
for all positions

Richard Grahn