VAL MAGNUSON

"Fireworks!"

From a palette of melting jewels
The neon warrior paints the sky
Mysterious packages of powdered light
Burst forth into heavenly adornment
Beautiful winter night!

The abyss between heaven and earth temporarily closes
From the momentary images superimposed
Against the sapphire canvas
Of bejeweled mounted transient might

On the cusp of ecstasy and entertainment
From the glowing spill
All senses are truly dazzled
By the commanding thrill!

Each luminous parcel
An enigma
To be solved with fire
Into the biting wind
Over the frozen water
Against the backdrop of stars and lunar light

HOORAY!
FOR THE FIREWORKS TONIGHT!

copyright 2003 VAL MAGNUSON

Alex Stolis

Life During Wartime

cashed a check 
at Wells Fargo yesterday, 
$836.00. 
The teller, her name badge 
read Michelle, 
smiled condescendingly, 
then I saw 
she had written her phone number 
on my deposit slip. 
I called her, asked her out, 
Friday at 8 PM. 
I picked her up in my '78 Nova, 
cracked windshield, 
cigarette burns in the dash, 
she wore new Levi's 
hair pulled back, no make-up. 
We listened to AM radio, 
a talk show about religion in schools, 
went to Mickey's, an all night diner. 
All through dinner she looked at me 
with that same condescending smile 
pasted to her face. 
I took her home, 
we made love on the sofa, 
her neighbor downstairs, 
a Latino named Michael 
watched CNN with the volume turned up. 
She looked at me 
with that smile, 
said "When are you going to get a real job?" 
I finished my Dewars, 
dropped the deposit slip on the coffee table 
and left

copyright 2003