i met her
dangling
on the shopping cart.
words were useless
with the wheels
thumping.
in the soda can,
all those bubbles against her.
outside there was room
for weather.
for small starved hands
of trees.
a little lightning could
cook them up.
a little thunder could
call the neighbors.
we pay with change
the manager must count.
a little boy picks up a penny
and sneaks away.
he could have been anyone’s.
he could have been ours, pretty as flesh.
he is a modern advertisement from head to foot.
and i want a cookie.
something.
i am always dressed for halloween.
when anyone asks,
i tell them
there is something
dashing in my genes.
Livio Farallo is co-editor of Slipstream and Professor of Biology at Niagara County Community College. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Helix, Rabid Oak, Rise Up, Otoliths, Ginosko, Literary Yard, Panoplyzine, and elsewhere.
Comments