My lips are a purple neon portal, my brain
is a bug zapper at a gas station c-store
off interstate 95.
I eat like a sparrow and recite like a myna
so listen for earthworms, but only hear
ear worms from seventies music
crackling kiosk speakers.
There’s a hum from a fluorescent grid and
it’s 4 a.m. in South Carolina. A moth flies
into my mouth and lights a candle and
strawberry incense swirls in the heat.
I count rosary beads like a nun hooked
on Eraserhead. I tell you to buy me
jalapeno flavored pork rinds, but
only if they’re on bogo clearance.
We’re out of money.
There’s no lime green lizard crawling
outta my pants pockets
to tongue at all the faithless flies, so,
I turn on the wipers to clear carcasses.
The blades wheeze, black lung-like,
slurring some New Years speech telling me
to attain the broad, to address the delicate.
I curse the rubber hearses on the dashboard
fouling my view of fresh fishnets
below a disco ball dress,
when you tumble out of the side restroom,
the yellow glowworm flickers,
one last firefly in a field of
blossoming black concrete.
Toilet tissue like gauze
stuck to your lime stiletto,
and I force a mind flush,
ready for one last roll down south.
This poem is a collaboration, and my attempt to elongate an intriguing poem by Iff Ur Abs, a talented poet, and dear friend. Be sure to check out more of his moving works.
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
Such a fun read. I’m Buzzing like Neon ⛽️🥤🧑🏼🎤🍬
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Thank you for making a pit stop on my page, and for this most excellent comment. Cheers.
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HahA – I see what you did there🚗😉🙂
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Well done. A fun ride.
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Thank you, VJ. Definitely had a great starter to hitch a ride to. 😉
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it’s fast and frenetic and I don’t get it all on first read but this does what language is meant to : agitate, provoke, amaze and ponder; off for a second read: Bob will love this 🙂
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Thank you, John. I just took an already unrolling take and adding a few more rotations to it. Fun to do this.
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fun to read; it has the rapidity and inventiveness of rap–
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Thank you. I enjoyed adding on to this psychedelic trip and seeing how far it could go.
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For me, this is an incredible set of images, some kind of scary and some very atmospheric. It’s an amazing read. I didn’t find it fun like a couple of others did. I don’t know if I was supposed to. But I definitely engaged with it and felt drawn in. It created a mood and a journey. I really like it.
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Agreed, Worms. It’s playful in parts, but I think with the title and the gas station grime, it has a gritty, horror edge. Thank you for reading and commenting, friend.
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Excuse my jumping on here. For me, it’s uncomfortably edgy; entirely too real; I smell that artificial lavender toilet block that’s supposed to smell refreshing and natural, but instead makes you gag; a journey that wreaks of pork scratchings; radio music that’s annoying. And the worst thing yet, you’re out of money. It’s an excellent write.
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😊just the sort of low we can all envision for ourselves, if not experience. Thank you kindly, Misky.
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OMG! You are amazing, I love this one!🥰
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Imagery is awesome, an awesome collaboration. Fireflies, lizards, and pork rinds, what’s not to love. Seriously.
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Yay. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s the sort of thing it takes two minds to create. Will do it again as I see how fun it can be.
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Enjoyed it much. Agreed. It’s a fun process. I’ve done a couple collabs, but it’s been a while. I look forward to your next one.
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Me, too. 😂 No, if you’re ever interested, I’d enjoy creating a piece with you.
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Oh, ha! 😂 Of course, that would be fun. I’d be honored. 💜
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Wonderful atmosphere and images.
‘There’s a hum from a fluorescent grid and
it’s 4 a.m. in South Carolina. A moth flies
into my mouth and lights a candle and
strawberry incense swirls in the heat’.’
‘the yellow glowworm flickers,
one last firefly in a field of
blossoming black concrete.’
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