Borrow or Rob?
Back at the Chateau Zeitgeist with Count Parapraxis, I’m trying to launder my funny money, but not making any progress. The 20s are all stuck together and the fabric softener is lying to the bleach. I can’t tell whether my Beatle wig is itchy or scratchy, but my monkey business has definitely passed its sell-by date. For much too long now, I’ve been masquerading my tongue twisters and assorted peccadillos, and whenever possible, lying through my teeth. Once you tally all the bungled cat burglaries and one-way round trips I’ve made, that’s not even half of the half of it. In fact, before I can split even a small, finite number of my split-infinitives, the Count turns to me and asks, How do you feel about palindromes, Bob? I have half-a-mind to tell him exactly what I think, but as I fumble with my one-size-fits-all bank robber gloves, he looks at me like I’m 50% of a conjoined twin, andsmirks. Aha. I thought so.
Palamino
There are so many ways to go wrong. As I sift through the loose change and assorted bullets in my left front pocket, something like rain begins to sweat from the tired, overworked clouds. The city wind is stagnant, frustrated. I pull on the hollow, Palamino horse-head and glance at myself in the bank’s front window. Why is there never a cop around when you need one? When would I ever need one?
About the artist
Brad Rose was born and raised in Los Angeles and lives in Boston. He is the author of eight collections of poetry and flash fiction: Or Words to that Effect, I Wouldn’t Say That, Exactly, Lucky Animals, No. Wait. I Can Explain, Pink X-Ray, de/tonations, and Momentary Turbulence. Brad is also the author of seven poetry chapbooks, among them, Democracy of Secrets, An Evil Twin is Always in Good Company, and Funny You Should Ask. His website is www.bradrosepoetry.com.
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