Wednesday, May 1, 2024

RYAN QUINN FLANAGAN

 



The Man Who Became a Couch

 

The man who became a couch

slid right down into the fabric,

his skin suit now upholstered

for the comfort of others,

his arms turned to pillows

as his cushion body softened –

waiting for somebody to sit

on his face

and not in a good way

if there is such

a thing.

Acupuncture In The Park

 

Disagreements being what they are

these days,

a couple playground kids stumbled upon

some acupuncture in the park,

more holes than what was left,

rummaged pockets turned out

on the exsanguinated body

just out of rigor.

The Belcher

 

It was a busy popular restaurant in the old city.

The type of place with matching tablecloths

and everything.

 

And the maitre d’ knew the table for one

would be a problem when

he seated him.

 

The man started belching loudly

and continuously.

 

Other dinner-goers covered their food

or tried to turn away.

 

Those waiting for a seat turned and walked out.

 

The man kept on belching.

 

Hey buddy, there are people trying to eat here!

Cut it out!

 

The belcher was just able to get a few words out

between belches.

 

Claimed it was a medical condition,

that he couldn’t help it.

 

No one could be sure,

not wanting to discriminate.

 

Everyone was suing for everything these days.

So the belcher went on belching.

 

A man who was getting ready to propose

put the ring away in his pocket

for another night.

 

But no one got up and left.

Not at these prices.

 

A young child on a nearby booster seat tried to belch along

and was shushed by his mother.

 

The staff asked if there was anything they could do.

The belcher waved them off and kept belching.

 

RYAN QUINN FLANAGAN

 

RYAN QUINN FLANAGAN is a Canadian-born author residing in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada with his wife and many bears that rifle through his garbage.  His work can be found both in print and online in such places as: Evergreen Review, The New York Quarterly, Our Poetry Archive, Setu, Literary Yard, and The Oklahoma Review.

 

                                                                   


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