Force

By stephanie roberts

repeatedly
sound
do you feel this?
to the bright thin
 
what is the this
i wonder
 
it must be
what every molecule
in the entrails
of a steel pin
gains near magnetic
 
touching myself
                            compassionately
has the impact of mallet
 
do you...?
the dragon inside uncoils
 
electricity invents itself
as light from a switch
 
shining to love &
obliterate
dark matter.

---

Mi Dispiace

By stephanie roberts

basement flood
work load
under weather
son to hospital
scheduled vacation
roof
car
soccer      drunk
hungover
gay
straight
pregnant
infertile
true to public art music saviour habit
husband
integrity
vow
love of annotation enumeration
pay taxes
lazy terrified anxious scatter      brained
angry with ambition
 
                          i'm sorry i haven't been around—neglected your day
 
i was doing what i'd rather.
enjoying what i enjoy more than you: the man
i'm cheating with my wife cat horse rocks reading
keeping you in the place
of your paucity of importance
the game
sacred grieving
hurting gut of opportunity squandered
image of buff dove
nestled in black valley
diamond nostalgia
priceless melancholia
golden lonesome.

---

Unbridled

By stephanie roberts

GREEN!
 
wears purple silks
nipple sheer.
 
COFFEE!
 
bloodstream freight train
sip or splash.
 
CANVAS!
 
her engagement breaks
off the page.
 
JUMP!
 
bones. a hardcover slams
close to the floor. broom.
 
PURPLE!
 
divorce
free parrot from itself.

---

stephanie roberts is a poet, artist, and recluse who believes you should be careful what you fish for. Her poetry is in numerous journals in North America and Europe, including Arcturus, The New Quarterly, CV2, Room, The Stockholm Review of Literature, OCCULUM, and The Maine Review. She was a finalist in the Anomalous Press Open Reading, and the 7th Eyewear Publishing LTD Fortnight Prize. Follow her Twitter @ringtales.