Thrills and Pills Galore

Self destruction became her guardian cover.
No way from this to recover.
So dispirited she's barely human.
Desire for release from Earthly dungeon.
All she wanted was for it to end.
For she felt like there was nothing left to mend.
She took the bottle in her hand,
It came pouring out like sand.
Her palm was filled with pills,
Her mind was filled with thrills.
She took a swig of the booze.
Soon she will take an eternal snooze.
An ocean of alcohol filled her mouth.
Then her suicide concoction went right down south.
As it entered her body,
She felt like she was a nobody.
She didn't bother writing a note,
Because then it would feel like a gloat.
She lied there waiting,
Thinking about all she was hating.
She closed her eyes,
Letting out her final sighs.
Then came the last time she breathed,
For life, she truly seethed.

by Marni Rubenstein

FRIENDS

I like to believe
Somewhere
There's a friend
With a cunt
For me
I mean
In someways
There is
And has been
But a friendship
Somehow ruined or kept
At a distance
Ruined by coming
Too close
In one way
Long before
The other
Kept at a distance
By fear
Of coming too close
The other
Since you like it
Near
But never
Bound

(pause)

My friend says
Give it a good
Jerk-off
And see if the interest
Is still there
Afterwards
Mostly
It's sadly not
But at least
There are some
I always consider
While doing it
Even after five years
They're not my friends
But good people
In two ways
Or more
As well as bad
In just as many
There are very few
I'd like back
Afterwards
Or anyway
But very much
Someone new
To outstand them all
Someday

by Yonn Ash

Thought Crime

It has become a fact, illusions arrive
stale and thirsty
electing ruin upon the Earth
in corrupt uniforms
and a dark period.
Do they serve rank like rancid meat?
Coated with sugar (in surplus too)
like they're sweet and affectionate?
It could be they're hollow
like a stolen grave.
Or will they detonate?

by James Jason Dye

BOUGHT, PAID, DELIVERED

I pay for sex
There are no tears or threats
Or numbers to call back
No morning after blues
Or too bright fridge lights
Illuminating the midnight sin
Professionals don’t need watering

But I miss the chase
The undecided guest
The gratification of conquest
Never a forfeit
Always a triumph

So tonite they send their greenest
The virgin hooker
Her first dollar
She might just run
My mouth waters
My balls swell
The chase is back on
I can’t fucking wait

She hovers above the bar crowd
The long dark hair and bright green eyes
So beautiful and rare
We pretend to meet as strangers
Much better for the game

Three hours we do this dance
The mouse chasing the cat
Her smile now easy with trust
Her body in tune with mine
I like her; she likes me

I have a room, I tell her
And up we go to fuck
The nerves and jittery hands
Making me forget I’d paid
We kiss like lovers
Like none before her
Fucking is great
But making love is better

I’ve never seen the same girl twice
There’s no fun in that
But this one’s different
Bewitching me with her smile
I’ll book her again
Before she’s with another
Maybe she’ll be mine

I wake up a better man
Though she’s gone for now
Her soul slipped into mine
Lipstick on the mirror
Telling me her name
“Great fuck, Anna”

The phone rings out
The escort service
Telling me they’re sorry
The new girl didn’t show
Do I want a rebook or refund

My head spins round
My balls shrivel up
Anna wasn’t the paid one
Just some girl in a bar
Who found the man I’d lost
Then left me to myself
Just as I’d left them all

by AJ Dresser

ART: MistleToe Temptress

by Amy Rowland

ART

by Alicia Lynn