by John Martino<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Like trophy trees going once, going<\/p>\n
twice, I\u2019m turning visions of you<\/p>\n
into everything has a price. Futures<\/p>\n
that never arrive. The past a present<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
permanent vice. Rusty, I guess.<\/p>\n
But I told every little star: \u201cThis edit<\/p>\n
is sick!\u201d A deceptively simple trick.<\/p>\n
A genuine fake in fact. Why should<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
any new observation change<\/p>\n
what you already believe to be true?<\/p>\n
We are fell thoughts dreaming,<\/p>\n
my hands watering ocean blue.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I want to swim inside you.<\/p>\n
Your clothes, I mean. Line the walls<\/p>\n
with your swimsuit beside me.<\/p>\n
Something so light, so sheer,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
so utterly see-through, we\u2019d be<\/p>\n
unable to sleep for days on end.<\/p>\n
Insolvency results from earning<\/p>\n
more than you spend. Think before<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
you weep. Stick to what you know<\/p>\n
and leave your opinions wherever<\/p>\n
the fuck. Maybe, then, I\u2019d get over<\/p>\n
the way your jokes always land<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
with a punchline of Good luck!<\/p>\n
Say it ain\u2019t so, or was it you that<\/p>\n
hit that truck? Con artist stacking<\/p>\n
the deck in desperate need of a buck?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We approached Albert, and Albert said,<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d rolling his r\u2019s. Universe gone flat<\/p>\n
as a Big Gulp of cola left out overnight<\/p>\n
near the bathroom mirror. Retribution<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
will arrive like a sudden broach of daylight.<\/p>\n
Ten thousand concerns curled up fetal,<\/p>\n
alone in bed. To all of you along<\/p>\n
for the ride: You shall grow old<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
as I lick your stomach. Can\u2019t wait to feel<\/p>\n
your house inside me, three planets<\/p>\n
to the left, a century of light bulbs ago,<\/p>\n
laughing our frail names into echo.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
John Martino is a writer, educator, and avid traveler currently residing in Hong Kong. Some of his wayward poems have found a home at North Dakota Quarterly, Another Chicago Magazine, Packingtown Review<\/em>, and Apricity Press<\/em>, among others. He is the Executive Editor at Home Planet News (homeplanetnews.com).<\/p>\n
\n