The Oldies station
plays plaintive love songs
as my Newly Wed and I
try not to kill each other
with salt and pepper

As I sit in the damp grass
I pretend the stormy distance ahead
is my cat's belly
when she craves something ugly
like me

The sirens
of her hysteria
awoke me through the night
I came down the stairs
to find our child on fire
and water in the fireplace


Ashlie Allen lives in the east coast, where she plans to attend Literature school. She also has plans to study photography. linkedin.com/pub/ashlie-allen/9b/607/325