Riz Mack

Sep 2023

John Edward Smallshaw

Arythmia

I blinked
she winked
thinking that
I'd winked
instead
of blinked

games
and
sometimes
we
win.

Sep 2023

sonja benskin mesher

.holding up.

some of us manage
to be vulnerable as naked
in private

some need holding up
in sight from my window

Riz Mack Sep 2023

sirenity

dreams of an obsession
restless
shifting underground
I could be your island
love me with your
wrists unbound

rising like a siren
conjuring the jealous sea
dripping lust and violence
beckoned in a reverie
whispered call
to pauper or crown
love me
and I'll watch you drown

bathed in your reflection
conquered in your finest hour
dream of sweet perfection
love me
breathless
wrists unbound

Riz Mack Sep 2023

Gray Hill

up on Gray hill
an old ash tree grows
just who planted it?
nobody knows

some eat the fruit
some kick the leaves
some sit quietly
minding the breeze

up on Gray Hill
where an old ash tree grows
come rain in summer
or springtime snow

where fairies are crowned
and eagles have fallen
where children run
until Mother comes calling

where lovers have carved their names in the bark
as starlight kept the night from its dark
up on Gray Hill
the old ash tree grows

just who planted it?
well
nobody knows

not even Odin

Sep 2023

Caroline Shank

Sounds In Silence

Sounds In Silence

Tomorrow comes like a slap
on my cheek.  It waits in the
drains of today like a cat, reaches
for my footstep. Trips me up.

Yesterday slithered into the
cesspool of memory.  I am
a flag in your stand of
cardboard in the window
in Chicago, at the corner
of Rush and State.

Today I set my feet to
find the last place where
the countless clocks struck.

There is no sound in the
Universe today.  All the bells
are open sockets without time.
I am looking for the trigger.

The last walnut cracked under
your weight without warning
and I stand here again

alone.

Caroline Shank
08.27.2023

Riz Mack Sep 2023

ambrosian

in a minute
I'll be down on my knees
lost in a prayer to your hips

I don't even notice
that the honesty is free
making for the blood on your lips

let me taste this
while you show off
in this space we made
nobody knows of

come and fake it
let me go off
to another place
you make it so

so pretty
when I inhale you
consume your faithless body

compelled to feed these
ugly thoughts
awakened when I'm honest

honest rhymes with body, right?

Jul 2023

Mrs Timetable

The Fiance

Seeing her turn around
Watching him
Walk into the room
Both adorned
Made his way to her
Leaned over the row of chairs
Her upper body pulled towards him
An embrace
His left hand
On her long dark hair
Disheveled upon where
Her neck meets her face
And then a sweet kiss
On her bloomed cheek
Meant just for her

Everything in my mind stopped...
This meant so many things to them
Hello my love
How are you? My best friend
My future
All the meanings of love
But
I've seen this before
Havent I?
Ever so openly
Simply done
When a older one kisses a baby
A mate kisses you goodnight
Kissing someone you've missed
This simple expression

But this
So secretly beautiful
In full view
Kindness and respect
For each other

In my mind
I looked around
And asked myself
Was I the only one
Who saw it the way I did?

True story.

I love it when a man puts his hand on a womans face and kisses her. I melt.

#fiance #marriage #love #respect #hand #face #younglove