For Misti

by Brian Rosenberger

She once wrote “words will kill me because I will eat them and that is not

what they were meant for”

Dear Misti,

What else are we to do but consume them like entrées at a buffet or drink them down like shots on a Saturday night, in celebration or desperation, good times and bad, and all moments in between.

We taste them, savor them, sometimes consume them entirely to fast, overcome

with desire and anticipation for the next and the next and….

We are sustained and maybe inspired.

Some of us are dumb/lonely/brave enough to share our words with others.

We offer of ourselves, a communion even I can believe in.

Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood. Our gospel. Our words.

Thanks for the meal.

The next one is on me.

Men Rule the World

by Brian Rosenberger

We were dining w/ friends. My firstexperience at a Korean restaurant. I will be back as that's damn good cuisine -grilled marinated steak, some mashed potato/cole slaw mash up, tasty, sinusclearing soup, too much (not enough) Saki and a lot of stuff I didn'trecognize, but eagerly consumed. Conversation covered a variety of things -work, why would-be Pres. Newt is a bad idea (President Newt, need I further address), eating habits of the elderly, and at some point, the burden ofwomanhood. By this point, I wasn't sure if I was a fan of Saki or not. Furtherconsumptions was needed. I proclaimed "Men Rule the World" andinvited argument. I pointed out Atlas, the titan who bared the burden ofsupporting the heavens on his shoulders, and undoubtedly peed standing up. As afan of cosmologies, I could have argued the Heads of Mythological pantheons(the ones I know of) are often male - Zeus, Jove, Jupiter, Odin, Atum,Quetzalcoatl, Lord Shiva, Yahweh, Jehovah (Mr. Jehovah to you), etc. Sure, I'llspot you Good old Gaea (Mother Earth) but I'm pretty sure she was makingbreakfast pancakes for Uranus back in the day. Besides, I could compare NBA ratingsto WNBA ratings. Björn Borg would have crushed Chrissie Evert in theirrespective primes. I don't recall ever seeing a female participating in theSuper Bowl. Still no female president (and that's a damn shame). Granted, Oprahis all-powerful but she's the exception, not the rule. This conversationcarried over into the Sunday morning with my wife. Again, I stated "menrule the world." She rebutted, "But women rule men" and Iconfess, I had no argument save one small request - Honey, go make me some pancakes.

Polaroid

by Brian Rosenberger

Her face hidden as is yours
turned away most likely not from shame,
but pleasure.
Her mouth swallowing your cock anonymously
The road sign in the background signals
a curve ahead.
I see only art.

Peeping Moon

by Brian Rosenberger

The moon watches as the kids next door destroy your mailbox
bouncing it off the blacktop
Blame it on adolescent testosterone
underage drinking
high school girls with mostly untouched breasts
and the desire to impress
Perhaps a failed education system is responsible
God, the President or too many cable channels
not enough green vegetables in their diet
nor enough visits to the library, church, the batting cage, the local drinking establishment, or whorehouse
or parents with enough problems of their own
besides an unwanted pregnancy years in their past
We forgive their trespasses but the cops don’t
armed with sidearm and flashlights and authority
No one answers the door but the moving blind reveals the lie
The kids are peeking, the moon is peeking, and so are you
The patient moon waits on the outcome like the rest of us.
hopefully coming soon so we can return to sleep and gossip
about the night’s drama
in the AM.

The Queen

by Brian Rosenberger

Full moon voyeur
dark woods
even the lightning bugs and mosquitoes
had retired for the evening.
We were at the Point
where the East and West forks
of the Whitewater river met
a crossroads of sorts
well past the witching hour
a time for revelation.
She admitted to her reputation
earned for her skills at sucking dick
the blow job queen
one I was not entirely unaware of
but I was more concerned
with catching catfish.
Weeks or months later I remember her and
her pet lizard, most likely a gecko,
my finger slipping effortlessly into her mouth
We all live with regrets.
My dick, her mouth
is not one of mine.