WD-40

by Jeff Burt

Craig Bennett

If only we had political strength WD-40, 

that you could spray a little on an MTG or MG 

and the braying, the screeching, the informing 

about its presence could be silenced by a squirt. 

The door would re-assume humility 

in being a utility again, no longer the portal 

which the candidates think they provide

into a yawning perfecting future, 

but simple wood, hinged and soundless,

meant once to be opened, and then kept shut.

Jeff Burt lives in Santa Cruz County, California and has worked in administration of electronics and mental health care.

DEAD MAN WALKING

by Jeff Burt

Source: Texas Department of Criminal Justice

The last lynching
will not occur in redneck backwoods,
will not occur in buckthorn bramble swamp,
will not occur from revenge in the hood
under the laughter of protection
and the protection of laughter,
for this is the world we wanted
and this is the world we get:

the last man lynched
will be jailed by judiciousness,
condemned by the passport of poverty
to regions the rich will never tour,
hung by a jury,
stung, doped, chemically fried,
taken from circulation
like a ragged dollar bill.


Jeff Burt works in manufacturing.  He has work in Rhino, Windfall, Thrice Fiction, and forthcoming in Mobius, Storm Cellar, and Star 82 Review.

WHEN THE FISH WILL JUMP INTO THE NET

by Jeff Burt 

When the fish will jump into the net
Gladly
Then I will as well.
When the grain will gather and compose itself to be ground
Gladly
Then I will as well.
When the rich will give up their wealth
Gladly
Then I will as well.
When the glaciers stop calving and breaking silence
With thunderous roars like fathers and mothers
Who have lost their sons and daughters to war
Squelch the deafening cry in their throats
Gladly
Then I will as well.
When the warriors come home happy
And we take them in the envelope of our arms
And they wish to be taken in by the same arms
That sent them to war
Gladly
Then I will come home happy as well.


Jeff Burt lives in Santa Cruz County, California and works in manufacturing.  He has work in Barnwood, Rhino, Verse Wisconsin, The Write Room  and Red River Review.  He likes the aroma of freshly sharpened #2 pencils.