The apple.

lightheaded, dizzy

and smoking

in the morning.

and I know

you don’t like

when I do this

so early, so I go

somewhere else

while I do.

bring my first

cup of coffee, my phone

or a book. and you come in;

you don’t mind – talk about

the coming workday

and ask me

would I like

an apple

for breakfast

to go with the coffee,

the cigarette. and I do;

not because

I want the apple

but I want you

to come back here

and to hear you

saying

more things

while you bring it to me.

 

Seeing the moon in daylight

it’s not uncommon,

but still is a thing

you might note. like birdsong.

a rock – the right rock reaching out

to your hand from a riverbed.

white rim asplinter;

a piece of white eggshell, sinking

so deep into blue. listen –

we were walking together.

the moon was there.

over the city. july

and the 5pm blue.

like pulling a rock

out of water –

the smooth feeling:

fingertip cold.

sometimes they reach

when you see them.

when they do

you do too – look at them.

put them in your pocket.

 

DS Maolalai

DS Maolalai has been nominated nine times for Best of the Net and seven times for the Pushcart Prize. He has released two collections, “Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden” (Encircle Press, 2016) and “Sad Havoc Among the Birds” (Turas Press, 2019). His third collection, “Noble Rot” is scheduled for release in April 2022.

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