Conference of The Birds by Gene Fowler

CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS

Find the rebirthing
love? – personal renaissance?

The only way
is to nudge into being
a whole damned Renaissance.

No other way.
All the hunting grounds
are used up, worked
out.

Inspired thoughts come.
The design for a hunting preserve.
Pull those I might wave
my Poet at, pull
’em into a room.
Then wave it in long, slow
wavings, deep, encircling moves,
wreathes of voice and word, winds
from moving hands, lips, eyes.

Make it double barreled:

a conference, place
where secrets
are divulged.

A reading, a place
where egos, theirs, may unfurl.

Be subtle: not just women
invited. Everybody. Poets,
publishers, patrons, those tickled by
muses . . .

Then, slick down the heavy wool
on my bent leg, tune
my three note whistle.
Attend.

–Gene Fowler

Steak & French Fries by Bradley Mason Hamlin

STEAK & FRENCH FRIES

that moment
when you take in the breath
hold it
she’s on top
moving in slow circles
you think about Jesus
burning on the cross
you can call it
tantric
sex magic
or some other bullshit
but it’s really
just
holding your breath
while relaxing
with a little time
travel
thrown in
the same feeling
you get
when suddenly
on too big of a wave
or rushing down
rabbit fast
on the powder
you hold the world
still
inside your gut
love fills your heart
even if your veins
are clogged with American
fast food
the pump
like mystic Oriental gong
flows
until the last note
sung
against your fragile lips.

–Bradley Mason Hamlin