We named her Big Cat—I don’t know why. Maybe because she was already grown when we got her, unlike the kittens we’d seen in the pet store window that Dad wouldn’t let us have.

We all stared, somewhat shocked and mostly disgusted.

I am exceeded / by a leaf

Translation’s not required—music/ sings itself complete and comprehensible

He stops smiling and only says he loves me when prompted, as if asking me to pass the salt for his inner peace as it tastes too bland.

You’ll say you should have known. You’ll blame my music.

When flash and bang merge you are, according to the manual, in deep do-do.

After my mother died, my father shipped me to my uncle's. He hadn't told me she was dying, so he could just mourn alone.Lena lived next door, Italian, my age -- which was ten -- beautiful. She was watched by goons in black suits. Her parents owned a restaurant. Across the…

“Now,” my friend said. “Tell us about earthquakes. Can we expect one anytime soon?”

In ashen hills of yonder

We all thought, Birds! We all thought, Nests inside the chimney!

I almost caught a poet today.

I said hey man, how you doin’? He looked up and nodded but his shades flashed and I couldn’t see his eyes.

I have a ninety two percent rejection rate.

(the hourglass has not gone digital, oh no,/but these days, silicon is in with the sand)