When lonely's
comfort food
and
misery loves
the company
of other
stranded and wounded
souls
huddled
for shelter
and warmth

Whit Howland © 2020

He sits in a metal chair
creaking
under his weight
his shadow rocks
as he rocks peaking
around the corner
is a flaming red gas pump
with a dyspeptic glass globe
out there off in the distance
are four lanes of blacktop
his is the fifth and solitary
one something we and the rest
of the world never will be privy to

Whit Howland © 2020

Fire engine
ripped
Naugahyde
cigarette burns
crusted
yellow
yoke
where am I
I woke up
and you were gone
still drowsy from sleep

Whit Howland © 2020

Melting
broken
twice right
cat's eyes
swishing tail
stuttering
stammering
seconds
making
solid minutes

Whit Howland © 2020

What matters most
is

surprise

not their color

it's that they go
with me

when I leave

another empty
earthen *** to fill
again

Whit Howland © 2020