American River Review 2022 - copy - Flipbook - Page 53
proudly worn like the breastplate of
Missaglia
heavy as an albatross,
revealing the scars of battle:
ketchup, gravy, flour,
mayonnaise, blood.
Hands cracked from the potion of
cleansing,
rising bubbles reflect loneliness
and morality;
am i the scraps
being tossed into the eternally
hungry
round metal teeth
of this labyrinthian monster
of life?
Sermon of YouTube plays to pass the
time,
Yet, I face forever.
The sign, dusty and faded, ignored
and unread:
“Please Rinse First”.
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