The Writer Buries Himself in The Mud Until The Next Rainy Season

by Melanie Browne

where, once again,

he will ramble

through the menagerie

of chaos,

mating with

the masses,

hoping his carrion

offspring

will deliver

the wake-

up-call

that

nudges

the sleeping

mobs

out of their

peaceful

stupor

Peaceful Rest

by Melanie Browne

The dusty
sign
which
peeks through
the hearse's
white-curtained
windows
catches my
eye as
I fly down
75

We both,

make the
same exit,

We pull
into the
parking lot
of Centennial
Liquor

simultaneously

Later, as
I load the
Van with

purchases,

I see the
driver
Pulling those

same white

curtains
closed,

my eyes
dodging

the dark
side of the clouds

6 Ravens

by Melanie Browne

6 ravens feel glum after
drinking espressos,

they feel
passive-aggressive,
and cut themselves
with shiny sharp things,

while 6 sailors
smoke beneath
6 crimson trees

Rejection

by Melanie Browne

I'm not sure I understand what this piece
is about. Susan? The neighbor? The neighborhood?
I also found myself wondering what the point
of the snake is. I hope it's just me.
I wish you luck in placing these pieces elsewhere.

Hanging with Molly Ringwald the day after the end of the world

by Melanie Brown

Molly Ringwald & I
Were the last
two people
Left standing
After a nuclear
Holocaust

Most of the
Restaurants
And stores were
Still open
So we went and got some
Cheesecake and coffee
We weren’t stressing at all
Then we did some shopping

There were no cannibals
No road warriors
Everything was clean
The sun was shining
A beautiful day really

There was no dog poop
Because all the dogs were dead.
It was a lot of fun

She said we could hang out again
The next day

McDonald’s Job Interview

by Melanie Browne

At his
Job interview
at McDonald’s
he mentions
his doctor’s
generosity
with Vicodin
during his
lengthy recuperation
for back surgery

Are you
currently taking
Vicodin
she asks
looking him
straight in the eyes

Oh no,
he says,
I’m clean
and clear
of that now

Ok, she says,
let’s move on,
and she
places the
W-4 form
in front of him
while he tries to
wake the
leg that has
fallen asleep


*Melanie Browne is co-editor of Leaf Garden press
http://melspoemsandsuch.blogspot.com/
http://leafgardenpress.com

Heaven is a Giant Pawn Shop/ Poems by Melanie Browne
http://www.erbacce-press.com/#/melanie-browne/4533546014/

My 7th grade French Teacher

by Melanie Browne

spent a lot

of our class

time talking

about her relationship

with her husband.

she talked about

it in English.

sitting on her desk,

she talked

and talked

about it

and before I

knew it the bell was

ringing for the next class

and at the end of the year

I barely knew the

the French alphabet

but I know they

never had sex

on Fridays

Welcome to Bedford Falls

by Melanie Browne

You can probably get drunk here.
Maybe find a woman to do the reverse cowgirl with.
You might find an Angel named Clarence here,
but then again, you probably won’t.
It’s a nice place,
but watch out for the bank examiner.

Whiskey and tooth pain

by Melanie Browne

The crown on my upper
Right molar is throbbing
And so I take
A few extra strength
Tylenol,
Some advil,

Then, finally,
a swig of whiskey
and swish it around
Because they used
To do that in the movies
When they had a toothache

Then again, they used
To pray for death
Because dental care
Was a little
More barbaric than
Today, but only
slightly

“whew” I say
but that doesn’t seem
quite right
“ah” I say
But the pain is still there.

"Well, hell"

That seems better
And I take another swig

Once Southbound

by Melanie Browne

I was southbound,
I was southbound
but love turned me
right back around,
right there on the highway,
and now I'm northbound.
I’m traveling all day.
Traveling all night
ears popping right here
on this long-ass
stretch of road
some son of a bitch
with a glass pack,
some son of a bitch
with an 18 wheeler but
I’m like a god-damned
Road cannibal
That’s what I am
my feet feel
heavy like an
Undertaker's van.
but
Love turned
me around
Now I’m northbound.


*Melanie Browne
Co-editor of Leaf Garden press
http://melspoemsandsuch.blogspot.com/
http://leafgardenpress.com/

*Heaven is a Giant Pawn Shop/ Poems by Melanie Browne
http://www.erbacce-press.com/#/melanie-browne/4533546014/