the collector
cat sits licking a
rancid spot where
fur refuses to grow
front door is ajar
place reeks of
every meal ever cooked
and every resulting fart
i knock as
stereo sweats through
haze of mid-day
little girl comes
with shy grape juice smile
“is rachel here, please?”
“just a minute” she sings
and runs away
i tap to a song
and wait it out before
knocking again
older brother shows up this time
hair flat on one side
“could you please ask
your mom to come
to the door, i’m
from the agency”
half song later
little girl hands me
8 crumpled one dollar bills
6 quarters and
a dime with something
hard and black stuck to roosevelt’s head
“mommy’s sleeping...she said
to give this to you”
i gather the money and
hand her a receipt with
$124.81 balance
and just as i start my rusty buick
radio blasts
“it ain’t me, it ain’t me
i ain’t no fortunate one...”
out my open windows
(first appeared: The Third Lung Review)
|
 Slipstream review with michael baskinski |
Dan Sicoli hasn’t played guitar in years, hasn’t cleaned the car in months, hasn’t cut his hair since last fall, but he has managed to take out the garbage and wash the dishes. He is co-founder and co-editor of Slipstream Magazine and Press in Niagara Falls-Apart, NY.
Other recent work has appeared
in print with Serving_Suggestion, Heeltap, Bathtub Gin, Chiron Review, and
Bender; and, electronically, with Disquieting Muses, Naked Poetry,
Interweave, Thunder Sandwich, Bulk Head, Ragged Edge, Stirring, and Erosha. In 1999, he was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
other online publications:
 Disquieting Muses:
• http://www.disquietingmuses.com/May00/sicoli1.html
• http://www.disquietingmuses.com/May00/sicoli2.html
Thunder Sandwich:
• http://www.thundersandwich.com/ts12/sicoli.html
Stirring
Bulkhead
Naked Poetry
Erosha
|
|