Advice from La Mancha
No one knows you
when you’re down
Don’t step into the ring
unless
you know
you’re going to win
God is the only true judge
Death comes
to rich and poor
apartment, mansion…
we’re not promised
another day
But I say to you
everyone struggles
From the goodest hearts
comes the evilest intent
be kind
(NONE OF IT HELPED)
Masks in the streets
Masks in the streets
the lions don’t roar
there’s masks in the streets
spilling left over contagion
from the sheets
masks in the streets
from hot summer night excursions
pornographic pandemic rendezvous
where the infected
slip and slide
in one another
thrusting towers
in secret wonderment
masks in the streets
same as it ever was
only in your face
behind dwindling daylight veils
how morning dew resembles
viral fever sweat
masks in the streets
death-rattle blues
let’s disregard folly and forget social contract lies
let’s commit our crimes at sunrise
high noon armed robbery at the food bank
dressed as Dali
masks in the streets
we’ll shoot fake healthcare workers in cold blood
spreading whatever it is around
in protest for their haircuts
and yelling at waitstaff
masks in the streets.
Nothing like the sun
Men without women
red bench- drunken sex on the floor
picking tomatoes
with migrants in the sun
daylight unhindered
in the glory of afternoon toil
observing nature sound
no sensual trickster pleasure
but the sight of imaginary thee
free to be
but a humble friend
of the earth
Mike Zone is a managing editor at Concrete Mist Press, the author of Void Beneath the Skin and A Farewell to Big Ideas, a frequent contributor to Alien Buddha Press and Mad Swirl . His work has been featured in: Horror Sleaze Trash, Cajun Mutt Press,Outlaw Poetry, Piker Press, Synchronized Chaos, The Whiskey Rye Review and Cult Culture magazine.