or consider your father’s suicide from
the safety of 25 years away
set your own failures against his
sleep through december
through january and february
take whatever pills you can find
burn whatever you need to keep warm and
then wake up lost on the morning the
flood finally creeps into your house
look for your youngest son
but his room is empty
answer the phone with the
proper amount of fear in your voice
always these goddamned ghosts on the
other end of the line
laughing at the bloodsoaked mess
your life has become
john sweet, b 1968, still numbered among the living. A believer in writing as catharsis. Opposed to all organized religion and political parties. His latest collections include HEATHEN TONGUE (2018 Kendra Steiner Editions) and A BASTARD CHILD IN THE KINGDOM OF NIL (2018 Analog Submission Press). All pertinent facts about his life are buried somewhere in his writing.