Author: Kyle Edwards

DUVET cover straightened and tucked,
BLAST of morning show laughter and blather,
FILMY surface of rushed coffee: all
CEASE one lingering, sabbatical day.

HORDE of stylish teens, then there’s
LOSER me in my JC Penny clearance rack getup and a
GUSTO for Star Trek trivia,
PRONE to wax eloquent on Kirk vs. Picard greatness comparisons.

COBRA Kai streaming on my laptop, its
CORNY 80s nostalgia goes great with
MINCE pies (for UK viewers) or
CHILI bowls (for US viewers).

LOWLY sponge hasn’t left his
CORAL reef all his life, eating
PLANKton, thinking about one exhilarating night when
AMISSissippi River catfish turned up.

STAMP collection, photographs half forgotten,
BONEY hands digging, investigating, a
TRACE of longing, regret, memories of
CLOVE tree grove, younger legs running.

QUACK ideas about rubbing your
SCALP with olive oil and
DRIER sheets twice and day ’tis sheer
FOLLY: just shave it all and be done with it.

HAZEL eyes widen in surprise to
REACT to news hard to believe when I
SPOKE about taking more time off, to
CHART more family trips, less project management.

QUELL my doubts that come in the
GUISE of faint praise or
UNDUE criticism, a
PALER reflection of real justification.

BRICK fire pit becomes grill,
TIGHT with cuts I’ve never heard of before,
SHOWY display of gluttonous indulgence.
ARDOR of meat and conversation lovers sets the scene.

STUNG by words in the

SHAPE of a knife, I

QUAIL before her wounded rage,

BLURT out something about leaving for work.