“Hearts on the Fence” © Bonnie Matthews Brock

 

Anti-Valentine

I hate loving
because it only
brings me to places
only method actors go
and then it makes my
heart sing out of tune
or causes me to purchase
bouquets at bodegas
but because it is my
only shot at being truly human
I will succumb to the curse
of a blessing that keeps
Hallmark, chocolate and cheap wine
in business
Ok, I have to go drive at midnight
in the snow
for a certain so and so

 

The Follower

I support you
even when you chase
black and white rainbows
or drive full speed
on dead end highways
and when you make
cringe-worthy comments
I will side with you
while everyone else
decides to call it a night
and go home
and though you lash out
while putting on your lashes
and laugh about things
that actually hurt
I stick around as your sidekick
like a wingman who cannot fly
all because you put up with
the likes of me
and so I never
grab my keys and get in my car
because I only want to be
where you are

 

Special Someone

how dare you shed
light on my prized darkness
how could you
enter a room so easily
when I was sure
the door was locked
and why did you
lead me to answers
when questioning everything
was my number one hobby
and then you printed
money just to end
my great depression
and made me
presentable when I
was perfectly happy
living in
my miserable pajamas
and then you ignored
my boundaries
and conquered my shores
just by invading my heart
and telling everyone
within earshot
that I am yours

 

Ivan Jenson is a fine artist, novelist and a popular contemporary poet who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His artwork was featured in Art in America, Art News, and Interview, and has sold at auction at Christie’s. Ivan was commissioned by Absolut Vodka to make a painting titled Absolut Jenson for the brand’s national ad campaign. His Absolut paintings are in the collection of the Spiritmusuem, the museum of spirits in Stockholm, Sweden. Ivan’s painting of the “Marlboro Man” was collected by the Philip Morris corporation. Ivan was commissioned to paint the final portrait of the late Malcolm Forbes. Ivan has written two novels, Dead Artist and Seeing Soriah, both of which illustrate the creative and often dramatic lives of artists. Ivan’s poetry is widely published (with over 600 poems published in the US, the UK and Europe) in a variety of literary media. A book of Ivan’s poetry was recently published by Hen House Press, titled Media Child and Other Poems, which can be acquired on Amazon. Two novels by Ivan entitled Marketing Mia and Erotic Rights have been published in hardcover. Ivan’s new novel, Gypsies of New Rochelle, has been released by Michelkin Publishing.

Bonnie Matthews Brock is a Florida-based photographer, as well as a school psychologist. Her images have been published in Ibbetson Street Press, The Somerville Times, and Oddball Magazine.