AluminumHeart

 No one knew what to expect. Our garage was filled with water bottles and assorted freeze-dried foods. Powdered milk and cereal bars fit for astronauts. We had stocked up enough blankets for an army of Eskimos and had at least six fire extinguishers spread in various rooms of the house, locked and loaded and read to go. Up and down the street, every window was shut and locked, curtains drawn. 9-1-1 had been programmed as a speed dial, as if the emergency crew would be of any extra help. The end could be coming. Then again, it might not be. We could be spending hundreds of dollars on a upgraded survival kit for nothing. There are those who

Auntie moans an annoyed gurgle, deep in her throat a woman kneels alongside Auntie's chair and assures her 'yes Auntie, she's getting your pie.' Auntie is anxious for her first pie in years and her last for countless more to come a generous layer of flaky crust a creamy filling, pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon protected by its thin wall of pleated aluminum I remove a large slice lift it up, the plastic knife beneath threatens to give Auntie keeps her plate on her lap her eyes warn that her pie has no place next to green beans I grab a clean plate the sign on the wall scolds me one plate per person I turn my back on the selfish s

Lasting. Still the white grave. There. A beauty that overtakes me. And I would muse by its light. But I hear things of fury. Lines of poetry not written. His. I take in only the shortest verse. So fast and new. Now a race. A rush to seize the life to which death answers. Mine. Could I run? Not again.

I push.  I don't want to, but it's something I have to do. "Excuse me.  Pardon me.  Let me through please." Squeezing my way through the crowd, I become increasingly anxious as people seem to be oblivious to my need to get through.  Nobody even looks at me. "Please move.  I'm sorry, I just have to get up there.  Excuse me." I stand on the tops of my toes and suck in my stomach to get around an especially large woman, bending over to tend to her newborn baby who was growing intolerant of the loud hum that a large crowd of people tends to make. I stop pushing when I get in front of the stroller.  There is a tall, blonde man in front o

"These fences piss me off to no extent.  We aren't animals.  We should know what's out there." Anna watched Al angrily kick the fence, causing it to wobble back and forth for a few seconds before coming to rest again.  She looked at him.  She looked at his clear blue eyes with their flecks of gold around the pupils.  She looked at his faded brown hair that looked black with all the gel he'd used to spike it, and thought about how he liked to joke that his hair was already going gray from all the stress.  She looked at the boxy shape in his jacket pocket that meant the box of Marlboros that helped him stay sane.  In doing all this, she looke

That's right Lenny, you teach your daughter to ride her pretty pink bicycle. You seem so content to be out in the yard holding the handlebars of your little girl, trying to prevent her from getting that scab she'll end up getting anyway.  But you know and I know that you would've rather been inside, propped up on the couch with a beer, watching the game.  It's no secret that the only reason you were outside was to please your wife, so that she would continue to pay the bill on the credit card you use to buy marijuana over the internet.  Yes, yes, that's a good one.  Deceitful.   Just how I likes 'em.  But people like you should feel no shame.

My glance meets your stare as my eyes scan the room I drive out the urge to look down I sustain the gaze for a moment too long The fervor so intense I could drown I wonder why you're so inert, so distinct Spending your night 'gainst a wall Considering whether to yield to the beat Or not bother to risk it at all Pick up the pace, inspirit your bulk It's affirmed that there's nothing to fear Uncross your taut arms, embrace all that comes Ignore the veiled passion that's here Or wait til it slows, when the crowd partners up As the intensity briefly is paused Eyes meeting, chests touching, sweaty bodies so close While the sideliner

Mothers have family Sailors have ships Jewelers have diamonds Actors have scripts The pope have their bibles Soldiers have guns Doctors have illness Young children have fun Politicians have disputing Cops have the law Salespeople have buyers Farmers have straw Teachers have pupils Bankers have money Bakers have flour Jokesters have funny Musicians have rhythm Models have clothes Athletes have muscle Authors have prose Various people find safety in life From a motley of things to pursue I haven't yet heard my own calling But I do find secureness with you

My heart goes all out for you tonight Just seek for a smile, even despite All the woes you might have, all the pain you might feel For a moment just try to forget that it's real Go back and relive all the hugs that you gave All the grudges you kept, all the ones you forgave All the smiles you caused, and the ones that you smiled Every day that you played as the perfect grandchild Revert to the good times, not to the bad And just for her sake, be a little less sad Remember she's watching, every move that you make Seeing every achievement, witting every mistake Act as yourself, be the boy that she knew Understand she lives days tha