Wes Lydon
"That Part in the Music" - Carl Phillips

Once loyal to a cruel master,
the dog moves like a man who
not so long ago weighed a lot less

"That Part in the Music" - Carl Phillips
Wes Lydon
"Why I Respect the Dog" - Catherine Pierce

The dog weighs twelve pounds
and uses them as she pleases.
The king-size bed is not big enough.

"Why I Respect the Dog" - Catherine Pierce
Wes Lydon
"The Orange" - Wendy Cope

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange—
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—

"The Orange" - Wendy Cope
Wes Lydon
"Message To a Former Friend" - Tony Hoagland

I just wanted to write and say,
in case you are hit tomorrow by a truck

or are swept from the beach by a freak wave;

"Message To a Former Friend" - Tony Hoagland
Wes Lydon
"Mother Talks Back to the Monster" - Carrie ...

Tonight, I dressed my son in astronaut pajamas,
kissed his forehead and tucked him in. 
I turned on his night-light and looked for you

"Mother Talks Back to the Monster" - Carrie Shipers

The Rumpus