Photography © Jennifer Matthews

 

Pyrophobia

Last night, I streamed my consciousness until my face hurt. At least my gums didn’t bleed. Then, I fell asleep on the couch and my body floated above the cushions. My spine was quiet as a dead snake. God said something funny to me, and I wondered, Who in their right mind wants a square fire pit and a round patio? In the morning, Mikey called and woke me up. He asked, Doesn’t revenge make a difference in people’s lives? Mikey’s always waiting for someone to pay him back, or for a rich relative to die. I told him, Mikey, sometimes the best thing about a meal is the knife. Yeah, Travis, he said, just before he hung up, but who does the government really work for? It reminded me of that time I was shot. At first, it hurt like an avalanche of molten steel, then, like a perfectly squared circle, the pain suddenly went Novocain-dead. Then and there, I decided it’s time to change careers. I’ve narrowed it down to elevator repairman or televangelist. As soon as I get over my fear of heights, I’m going to enroll in some classes at the community college. I understand fire and brimstone, but why would anyone want to set a fire to their backyard?

 

Brad Rosewas born and raised in Los Angeles, and lives in Boston. He is the author three collections of poetry and flash fiction, Pink X-Ray (Big Table Publishing, 2015), de/tonations, (Nixes Mate Press, 2020), and Momentary Turbulence (Cervena Barva Press, 2020). WordinEdgeWise, from Cervena Barva Press, is forthcoming later this year.

Poet/Photographer Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of Poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.