SILK MASK

by Imogen Arate

Searching through soft squares
Inherited neglected
Never found occasions for outings
Though always kept
For such chance excursions

Now it’s her time to shine
After resting during uncounted seasons
Since those loving hands of one
Who also rests now
In a forgotten crypt
Saved her from other fates

But might have never dreamt
She’d hide the visage
From escaping contagion
Rather than festoon
The reserved blouse
Or sweet dresses of spring

Imogen Arate is an award-winning poet and the Executive Producer and Host of the weekly poetry podcast Poets and Muses. She has written poetry since her tween years—in four languages and published in two. Her poems “A Declaration of Loyalty” and “Sanctuary” took home the second and third prizes of the 2020 National Federation of Press Women's at-large Communications contest.  She is also the 2019 Phoenix Poetry Slam Erotic Haiku Deathmatch Champion.

ESCAPING THE DONALD

by Bruce Bennett

Image source: HenriCartoon

A day without The Donald
is something fine and free.
It’s like a paid vacation
to somewhere by the sea.

It’s like a walk in sunlight
on white and sparkling sand,
or skimming on the water
just out of sight of land –

But then, the spell is broken.
You hear that grating voice.
You see that smirking visage.
You haven’t any choice.

You’re back amidst the rubble.
The streets are garbage-strewn.
There’s shrieking from loud speakers.
You won’t be leaving soon.

With nerves all raw and fraying,
condemned to high alert,
you’re subject to The Donald,
neck-deep in muck and dirt!

Bruce Bennett is the author of ten books of poetry and more than two dozen poetry chapbooks, the most recent of which is The Donald Trump Of The Republic (FootHills Publishing, 2016), released at the end of May. Bennett is an Emeritus Professor at Wells College, where he taught English and Creative Writing and directed the Visiting Writers Series since 1973.