red booth
review
issue e18teen
|
How To Impale A Watermelon
With A Playing Card
1.
smell the pack of cards to make sure they are fresh,
remove the jokers because they are uneasy
they know what will happen next,
hypnotize a watermelon
this is remarkably easier than it appears,
you will know when it is asleep when it snores
toss a card overhand between the green and white stripes,
toss with the justified anger of a jilted lover
sometimes it will glance off the surface like skipping stones
sometimes a King will kiss the pregnant belly
2.
I toss cards like tomahawks at unsuspecting objects,
they spend all day dodging meteors
a watermelon is a half moon grin,
the playing deck has toy sailboats mooring
I am arrested for having fifty-two weapons,
I escape digging a tunnel with the Ace of spades
3.
a giant watermelon thumps Tokyo houses
as planes glance harmlessly off its thick chest
it spits toxic seeds as playing cards
while Americans tourist with cameras plan a picnic
- Martin Willits
| Martin is currently a Prison Librarian.
He has recent publications in Rattle, Pebble Lake Review, Octavo, FireWeed,
and others. Hisfourth chapbook, "Falling In and Out of Love" is available
from Pudding House Publications. |
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