Pinky's Pizza in Petaluma
Photo by Cynthia Linville, Sacramento
Photo by Cynthia Linville, Sacramento
TURNED YELLOW BY THE VERY THOUGHT OF IT
—Kevin Jones, Elk Grove
Worked for a while with
The Fair Oaks Theatre Festival,
Just before they went semi-pro.
Did the newsletter, readings
From plays, talks for clubs,
The usual PR stuff.
Realized it was time to move on
When they offered to build
A chicken suit for my appearances.
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I dreamed that I suddenly got a white horse—
out of nowhere he just appeared in my backyard
I didn't even think what I was going to do
For some reason I said to the horse I think I'll call you "Equus"
even though I know that was some freakin' weird play
about a mentally ill boy who blinded horses
I then just decided to hop on him with no saddle
All of the sudden the traffic and roads disappeared
and I rode him on the trails around the American River
—Michelle Kunert, Sacramento
______________________
The nurse assures "Come on, it's just a routine screening..."
I can't even look at the tools supposed to penetrate me
"Haven't you had sex?"
even though she knows I haven't had children
"What the hell does that have to do with this test procedure?" I answer,
"It's just not the same"
But this plastic clamp won't hurt like the metal ones
which I told her I got hurt on long ago when one I guess went wrong
"You'll just feel pressure"
like she was just describing a massage instead
But any "toys" I've used don't prod me like this does
And I swear I have vulval nerves that shoot pain throughout my body
I decide I can't go through with it unless I get something to numb
as one would have, getting a cavity filled at the dentist
—Michelle Kunert
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OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS #4
—Michael Cluff, Corona, CA
They and I
play a game of patience
with my car
underneath the eucalyptus.
Learning their dietary
cycles and flights,
I can time my moves
my castling
of rook and king
unless parking restraints
force me otherwise.
The sparrows don't
pay any notice
if my Charger is
in their bombsite
the cement and blacktop
then suffer more
that they would do usually.
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Today's LittleNip:
IN SEARCH OF AN ACRONYM
—Caschwa
YIPPEE! – Your Investment Portfolio Proudly Exceeds Expectations!
SIGN HERE – Security Is Good Neighbors, Hope Eternal Resides Everywhere
THOUSAND – True Hearts of the United States of America Never Die
SOAP – Serenity, Optimism, And Peace
WALNUT SHELL – Whoever Arrives Last Needs Us To Show How Excellence Lasts Longer
POETRY – People Over-Eat Then Repose Yawning
WISHFUL THINKING – What If Sudden Hot Flashes Ultimately Launched True Happiness In Not Knowing Infinite Needless Gerunds
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—Medusa, with thanks to today's cooks for some wonky sh*t, as they say..... :-)
Apple Hill, 2011
—Photo by Cynthia Linville
