Apraxia

Have you ever seen an
elephant gas mask?
Dominatrix mask for the moon
or a scarecrow made out
of three mailboxes?

Paper cuts into readymade
bleeding hearts.
Have you ever scored a sore,
exposing the pink continent beneath?

Sylvia said, "Love set you going like a fat gold watch"
but I am made of copper -
the coiled mass from a
mothers unspun thread.

These little houses
have no homes
to hold them - only a plot,
that must steep
in order to thicken.

- Kayla Smith

(featured in the poetry forum 10.26.11)

editor's note: Just because you asked, doesn't mean I will. Masks, scarecrows, what else? I refuse to see a thing until the plot thickens. - mh

Your Last Name

I gave you a naked
photograph of myself and
the only vestige I
have left of you
is an old Eskimo pie and
the skunk dyed
rabbits foot you gave
me, its nails now
crumbs at the bottom of my bag.

- Kayla Smith

(featured in the poetry forum 09.08.11)

editor's note: Always strive to leave a more lasting memory than rabbit's foot toe jam, especially when you still have that picture taped to your bathroom mirror. - mh

The Bathroom Floor

horseshoe, clean hit
against the rusted bar
(ringer, spit).

soles squelch against
maleficent pine.

shadowed teemers hang in a
fine line
(garb, gabble, & smack).

I will never know your face.

- Kayla Smith

(featured in the poetry forum 06.21.11)

editor's note: This poem is the song of the South. If it’s not softballs and beers, it’s certainly horseshoes. And as the immortal game is played, the world goes and goes one Swirled clean set of sheets and pile of undies at a time. - tm