BORN INTO THIS? by Jason Fisk

Born into this? Yeah,
I watched the documentary.
I didn't mind Bukowski's antics
until he was sitting there on the couch
with his girlfriend.

He got mad at her
and the spat escalated into
a drunken argument.

The next thing I know
Bukowski's sitting there,
sideways on the couch,
in his bathrobe
kicking his
woman.

Like a spoiled child
getting pissed
at someone
and kicking them.

Not a drop of his drink
spilled as he
scooted himself across
the couch
and relentlessly kicked
the love of his life.


Jason Fisk lives in Chicagoland with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He tries to find time to write between changing diapers and cleaning up poop. He is currently teaching English to students who would rather read graphic novels than learn how to write a proper sentence. You can visit his website at jasonfisk.com.

LIFE by Spencer Troxell

At a certain point

You put your head down.

Not in defeat,

But to work.

You put your shoulders into it.

You make your calves ache.

When you were little,

Your face was a full moon

Receptacle: a plate to catch rain.

Now your face catches sweat

Streaming in dirt

Down from your hat band.

You are building something

You will never complete,

And that is the way it should be.

Spencer Troxell lives in Cincinnati with his wife and two sons. He's 27. His writing has appeared in many places, and an e-book of his poetry called Mule and Horse will be available April 1st. courtesy of whyvandalism.com . visit his blog for more stuff: spencertroxell.blogspot.com