Dealt
written by: Andrea E. Lodge
The Queen of Spades
lays face-down
in the semi-muddy
half-grass.
While they are
bumming cigarettes,
talking too loudly,
losing the art of
common courtesy.
And I am Samhain sky.
The end of long sleeves,
and burning up
in humid dew.
The window falls in,
all kinds of forecasts.
Climb over mountains.
Traumatic memories
and life.
Just life.
Closed now.
I hate a red deck.
I just hate red.
Flip her now.
I’m sure there’s a meaning.
I am the beauty
in the eggshell sparkle
slithering in the bottom
of the frying pan.
Speckled.
Vacant, colorless crayon
in the middle
of December.
Just wax.
Wax.
No vinegar
or wire dippers.
Above the drapes.
Out of reach.
Nail polish isn’t worth
the chipping,
like anxiety,
like heritage habits,
and how we’ve never had
a tornado.
The Queen of Spades
in a photograph.
Still soggy.
A mirror.
Andrea E. Lodge resides in Philadelphia with her husband and two disabled cats; Budgie, with only three legs, no tail and who is constantly drooling, and Loki, AKA Poki, AKA, Pokapotamus (because he weighs 20 pounds), a Scottish fold with only one folded ear. She studied English/Secondary Education at Holy Family University and taught middle and high school Writing and Literature after graduating. She is now a full-time Writer and something resembling an artist. She has had several poems featured on Spillwords, two pieces included in an anthology by Havik, several poems and some prose in different issues of Alien Buddha Press’ Feminist Agenda, The Alien Buddha’s Block Party: Blackout Poetry, Alien Buddha’s Zine #12 and Alien Buddha’s Zine #21, her poem, Screaming at Tiffany’s, was in the 12th issue of Voice of Eve magazine. She has also had some work featured in Danse Macabre’s Entrée DM 123 and DM 125: Fete de Noel. She has also been featured in the Winter edition of Soul Lit’s online ‘zine, 2019. As of late, Andrea has written reviews for the books Evocare (Ayo Gutierrez, Eileen Tabios, Brian Cain Aene) and The Tears I Never Told You (JinQue RD). Andrea has also edited The Tears I Never Told You and Are You Ready? (Ayo Gutierrez, Gigi D. Sunga, Ph.D.) She has most recently had her poetry featured in the anthology, Scentsibility, a book of poetry related to the senses.
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