\u201cRecessionary Bliss\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n obscure mind<\/p>\n a heartless drum<\/p>\n a harrowing notice<\/p>\n payments have been delayed, sir.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n breathing in and out the same<\/p>\n the noise the same<\/p>\n the view from the window<\/p>\n the leafless branches<\/p>\n the sun shining<\/p>\n through<\/p>\n just right<\/p>\n like a spider’s lace<\/p>\n there through<\/p>\n the window<\/p>\n <\/p>\n damnation pays<\/p>\n bills<\/p>\n a heartless drum<\/p>\n a harrowing notice<\/p>\n we have not received your payment, sir<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n historical lines are standing<\/p>\n a standing ovation<\/p>\n is now upon us<\/p>\n through the flicker<\/p>\n of thought<\/p>\n the candle holds still into the wind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n breathing in and out the same<\/p>\n the noise the same<\/p>\n the view from the street<\/p>\n never seemed so much like porcelain<\/p>\n on a tray<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and we’re high out here<\/p>\n down here<\/p>\n below the limelight<\/p>\n <\/p>\n a heartless drum<\/p>\n a harrowing notice<\/p>\n the payment is in the mailbox.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n II:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n a reasonable fee<\/p>\n undermining<\/p>\n while<\/p>\n mining the time<\/p>\n like it was<\/p>\n a job<\/p>\n for cowboys<\/p>\n <\/p>\n exterior walls<\/p>\n all facing inward<\/p>\n now<\/p>\n all minds coming<\/p>\n back home<\/p>\n for the turkey<\/p>\n and the rolls<\/p>\n <\/p>\n your payment has not yet been received on our end, sir<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n harrowing blood types<\/p>\n hollow interiors<\/p>\n paying<\/p>\n back<\/p>\n the<\/p>\n debt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n III:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n as the tile turns colder<\/p>\n in the winter months<\/p>\n and the rain<\/p>\n ceases<\/p>\n or turns to snow<\/p>\n or ice<\/p>\n or both again<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the frost<\/p>\n accumulates onto<\/p>\n the walls<\/p>\n and then melts<\/p>\n off again<\/p>\n turning to moisture<\/p>\n in the afternoon<\/p>\n turning to mold<\/p>\n again<\/p>\n in the summer<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the breath<\/p>\n blows into<\/p>\n the room<\/p>\n colder than<\/p>\n night<\/p>\n warmer than<\/p>\n blankets<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the coffee pot<\/p>\n howls<\/p>\n another two or three<\/p>\n cups<\/p>\n overdone<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the lamp flickers<\/p>\n faulty wiring and<\/p>\n all<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the cat chirps<\/p>\n a cry<\/p>\n whining<\/p>\n for breakfast<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the heart chirps<\/p>\n a cry<\/p>\n whining<\/p>\n for life<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the lover<\/p>\n stays<\/p>\n sleeping<\/p>\n in the bedside<\/p>\n the only one understanding<\/p>\n the state of things.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n IV:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n we have already notified the state of your situation, sir.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n and haven’t they<\/p>\n yet<\/p>\n gotten the point?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the cigarette rolls<\/p>\n between<\/p>\n fingertips<\/p>\n a harrowing lifestyle<\/p>\n still<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there are stillborn<\/p>\n dreams<\/p>\n inside<\/p>\n the head<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there are momentary<\/p>\n hazes<\/p>\n from slipping<\/p>\n cotton<\/p>\n in and out<\/p>\n of the gums<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the cracking<\/p>\n of skin<\/p>\n the air<\/p>\n around the fingers<\/p>\n bleeding<\/p>\n through the<\/p>\n water<\/p>\n <\/p>\n another cold shower<\/p>\n <\/p>\n we are prepared to notify the attorney general’s office, sir<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n yesterday’s garbage<\/p>\n today’s dinner<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and now the chicken<\/p>\n no longer<\/p>\n holds a crunch<\/p>\n or a proper chew<\/p>\n as the chomping<\/p>\n goes through another<\/p>\n day or more<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and in this moment<\/p>\n when congress<\/p>\n said<\/p>\n that pizza was a vegetable<\/p>\n born out of romance<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the harrowing drum still pounding<\/p>\n the jazz trumpets<\/p>\n all walloping into<\/p>\n some strange new form<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the old women down<\/p>\n at the laundromat<\/p>\n have become<\/p>\n fear<\/p>\n have<\/p>\n felt<\/p>\n the strange<\/p>\n prangs of<\/p>\n fear<\/p>\n <\/p>\n change is afoot<\/p>\n and here<\/p>\n the frost<\/p>\n still<\/p>\n exists<\/p>\n still breathes<\/p>\n and grows<\/p>\n upon<\/p>\n the walls.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n V:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n recessionary bliss<\/p>\n is upon us<\/p>\n at least now<\/p>\n in the spring<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there are still leaves<\/p>\n blowing circles<\/p>\n across the yard<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and the landlord never pays attention to this<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the telephone doesn’t exist<\/p>\n it only comes now<\/p>\n in the mind<\/p>\n like so<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I cannot allow you to delay any longer, sir.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n VI:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n the lover<\/p>\n now demands<\/p>\n change<\/p>\n <\/p>\n pace<\/p>\n and heart<\/p>\n now<\/p>\n similar<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as she walks<\/p>\n her feet<\/p>\n bring noise<\/p>\n as she stands<\/p>\n on the edge of<\/p>\n the noise<\/p>\n she makes<\/p>\n much sense<\/p>\n from the little left<\/p>\n who believe in her<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the lover<\/p>\n wants out<\/p>\n wants outside<\/p>\n wants<\/p>\n the frost to stop<\/p>\n wants the phone<\/p>\n to stop<\/p>\n <\/p>\n again, the phone<\/p>\n no longer real<\/p>\n no longer<\/p>\n a reliable<\/p>\n friend<\/p>\n sitting next to you<\/p>\n at a table<\/p>\n somewhere<\/p>\n in some part<\/p>\n of southwestern<\/p>\n Ohio<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and still the voice calls out<\/p>\n <\/p>\n sir, the payment we received was insufficient.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n VII:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n an army recruiter appears<\/p>\n he breaks<\/p>\n the hinges<\/p>\n on the door<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the buzzer no<\/p>\n longer sounds<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the electricity<\/p>\n has been dismantled<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there remains an atomic idea<\/p>\n in the bedroom<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the lover is nowhere to be seen<\/p>\n <\/p>\n still<\/p>\n <\/p>\n sir, a third party has contacted us on your behalf, your account has been credited.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n the recruiter<\/p>\n never makes<\/p>\n clear<\/p>\n his intention<\/p>\n <\/p>\n until his pants fall<\/p>\n down around<\/p>\n the ankles<\/p>\n <\/p>\n a harrowing drum<\/p>\n a door without hinges<\/p>\n a life without frost<\/p>\n still nowhere<\/p>\n close<\/p>\n to here<\/p>\n <\/p>\n as the mountains came down<\/p>\n around<\/p>\n and the flood walls<\/p>\n failed<\/p>\n there began<\/p>\n a silence<\/p>\n <\/p>\n no dignity was left<\/p>\n <\/p>\n simply a shaved head<\/p>\n bound<\/p>\n and singing out<\/p>\n <\/p>\n freedom<\/p>\n <\/p>\n VIII:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n in the field there<\/p>\n was torment<\/p>\n talking about<\/p>\n lives<\/p>\n and lines<\/p>\n were drawn<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there was no more<\/p>\n cubism<\/p>\n or intellectual<\/p>\n stimulation<\/p>\n <\/p>\n only triggers and points<\/p>\n of intrusion<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the locals<\/p>\n never believed<\/p>\n in anyone<\/p>\n rightfully so,<\/p>\n supposedly<\/p>\n <\/p>\n when can we expect you back in the area then, sir?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n speeding by<\/p>\n came<\/p>\n a sound<\/p>\n <\/p>\n silence pulled<\/p>\n at the heels<\/p>\n and the heels<\/p>\n were already weak<\/p>\n from the bags<\/p>\n of hot lunch<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and then<\/p>\n there<\/p>\n amongst the fallen<\/p>\n the loudest<\/p>\n noise<\/p>\n of peace came<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and there were lights<\/p>\n <\/p>\n no more telephones<\/p>\n no more reminders<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and the lover<\/p>\n <\/p>\n she was there<\/p>\n walking up with ice cream<\/p>\n cones in both<\/p>\n hands<\/p>\n <\/p>\n IX:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n back in the<\/p>\n frost<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the leaves<\/p>\n were still gone<\/p>\n <\/p>\n though slowly<\/p>\n a harrowing drum<\/p>\n though slowly<\/p>\n a silence of silence<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the buds on the tree<\/p>\n still cold<\/p>\n yet growing warmer<\/p>\n somehow<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the cold coming in<\/p>\n and out<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the lover<\/p>\n by the window<\/p>\n <\/p>\n waiting<\/p>\n <\/p>\n all was resting<\/p>\n on knees<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there was a thunder coming<\/p>\n out through her throat<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and everything<\/p>\n made silence<\/p>\n seem like the daylight<\/p>\n <\/p>\n please return our call as soon as possible, your account is 39 days past due<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n X:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n now<\/p>\n in silence<\/p>\n <\/p>\n still without a telephone<\/p>\n that still<\/p>\n rings<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the frost<\/p>\n still present<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the lover<\/p>\n curled<\/p>\n softly<\/p>\n between<\/p>\n blankets<\/p>\n brought home<\/p>\n from the wartime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n XI:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n here now with hope<\/p>\n never realizing<\/p>\n parts of the<\/p>\n time<\/p>\n <\/p>\n sounds of shrieks<\/p>\n nightmares of silence<\/p>\n <\/p>\n developing into<\/p>\n calm<\/p>\n levels of dependance<\/p>\n <\/p>\n beliefs began<\/p>\n appearing<\/p>\n <\/p>\n side-door memories<\/p>\n wallowing<\/p>\n in their own filth<\/p>\n <\/p>\n around then<\/p>\n belittling herself<\/p>\n the lover began<\/p>\n to ache<\/p>\n <\/p>\n other parts of hope<\/p>\n still look back<\/p>\n onto this<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and more parts<\/p>\n feel ever<\/p>\n differently<\/p>\n than the light<\/p>\n <\/p>\n sometimes she<\/p>\n would escape<\/p>\n herself<\/p>\n but other times<\/p>\n not so much<\/p>\n <\/p>\n rage<\/p>\n amassed itself<\/p>\n in her hands<\/p>\n in her feelings<\/p>\n for the past<\/p>\n <\/p>\n can you say when you expect him home, madam?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n life moving<\/p>\n too fast now<\/p>\n all blank verse<\/p>\n in feeling<\/p>\n all free verse<\/p>\n in action<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the leaves turning<\/p>\n slower<\/p>\n than the color<\/p>\n of shoes<\/p>\n on the sidewalks<\/p>\n <\/p>\n imagining a life<\/p>\n without him<\/p>\n imagining the silence<\/p>\n of heaven<\/p>\n <\/p>\n birds perched on the fence<\/p>\n outside the window<\/p>\n <\/p>\n everybody on the run<\/p>\n and obsessed with<\/p>\n premonition<\/p>\n <\/p>\n so many noises<\/p>\n and just one hope<\/p>\n as a whisper says<\/p>\n stay strong<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n XII:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n as she walks away<\/p>\n from the window<\/p>\n a piano<\/p>\n hits a<\/p>\n high C<\/p>\n as lives compare<\/p>\n themselves<\/p>\n there beyond<\/p>\n the streetlamps<\/p>\n <\/p>\n closing her eyes she waits for trumpets<\/p>\n <\/p>\n a last kind of heart<\/p>\n hits the heart<\/p>\n as the plane lands<\/p>\n <\/p>\n enough of this is left<\/p>\n and enough of this<\/p>\n knows how<\/p>\n to pack the bag<\/p>\n <\/p>\n hostility buried in<\/p>\n bones<\/p>\n coming out<\/p>\n with it<\/p>\n all over<\/p>\n with it<\/p>\n now<\/p>\n <\/p>\n no longer is there<\/p>\n a generation of men<\/p>\n simply ones infinitely-bound to boyhood<\/p>\n <\/p>\n continuously the stars<\/p>\n crying down<\/p>\n over the roofs<\/p>\n and through the<\/p>\n woods<\/p>\n <\/p>\n peace coming back<\/p>\n now<\/p>\n <\/p>\n coming<\/p>\n along<\/p>\n down the highway.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n XIII:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n like actual men<\/p>\n words are never<\/p>\n spoken<\/p>\n <\/p>\n simply<\/p>\n <\/p>\n demons are carried<\/p>\n along the backs<\/p>\n of men<\/p>\n <\/p>\n letting it rain<\/p>\n letting it rain<\/p>\n letting it rain<\/p>\n <\/p>\n it’s strange what highways can remember<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the person you are trying to reach has a voice mailbox that has not been set up.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n XIV:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n to mime<\/p>\n is to figure<\/p>\n out<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and home again<\/p>\n the lover can<\/p>\n rejoin<\/p>\n in the sight of him<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the frost vacant<\/p>\n the frost as vacant<\/p>\n as his eyes<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the bedroom<\/p>\n atomic<\/p>\n in principal<\/p>\n waits to be<\/p>\n seized upon<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and the trumpets still blare<\/p>\n <\/p>\n we have you set up for monthly installments beginning on the 21st<\/sup>, is that correct?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n no more<\/p>\n from the folks<\/p>\n downstairs<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the ceiling as quiet<\/p>\n as dawn<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the angels slow dancing<\/p>\n in the arms<\/p>\n of sinners<\/p>\n <\/p>\n occasionally the lover is<\/p>\n reminded of herself<\/p>\n and shit begins again<\/p>\n <\/p>\n telephones ringing<\/p>\n and shit throwing itself<\/p>\n upon the front door<\/p>\n <\/p>\n through our communication with the bank, it appears the account in question has been closed.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n from silence<\/p>\n returns<\/p>\n a harrowing drum<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and so as the autumn<\/p>\n begins to<\/p>\n lose the light<\/p>\n memory is reminded<\/p>\n that frost<\/p>\n seems<\/p>\n less optional.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n XV:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n the lover<\/p>\n packs her<\/p>\n suitcase<\/p>\n <\/p>\n something pearl in color<\/p>\n containing<\/p>\n much less than<\/p>\n she brought in<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the road ahead<\/p>\n of her<\/p>\n much less visible<\/p>\n than the frost<\/p>\n <\/p>\n she knew<\/p>\n things were going<\/p>\n on<\/p>\n behind dumpsters<\/p>\n at the end of alleyways<\/p>\n <\/p>\n she knew<\/p>\n things were going<\/p>\n on<\/p>\n in the middle<\/p>\n of boulevards<\/p>\n and behind school<\/p>\n desks<\/p>\n in the minds of children<\/p>\n all over<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and<\/p>\n then<\/p>\n <\/p>\n she walked out of the frost<\/p>\n <\/p>\n counting each<\/p>\n step with the<\/p>\n passing of<\/p>\n headlights<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the streetlamps<\/p>\n seemed inviting<\/p>\n <\/p>\n her heart felt less<\/p>\n frigid<\/p>\n <\/p>\n though<\/p>\n <\/p>\n still warm to<\/p>\n the touch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n XVI:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n stealing<\/p>\n what remained<\/p>\n of her<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the lover<\/p>\n fell victim<\/p>\n to the silence<\/p>\n <\/p>\n telephones<\/p>\n no longer<\/p>\n lingering<\/p>\n in the air around<\/p>\n her bedside<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the thoughts<\/p>\n turned<\/p>\n rancid<\/p>\n soured<\/p>\n as if milk<\/p>\n was left<\/p>\n alone<\/p>\n <\/p>\n weeks turned<\/p>\n to months<\/p>\n <\/p>\n the levies began<\/p>\n to crumble<\/p>\n around her eyes<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there was a space<\/p>\n empty<\/p>\n <\/p>\n parking lots<\/p>\n seemed inviting<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there was a bottle<\/p>\n of gin involved.<\/p>\n _______________________<\/p>\n Joshua Robert Long lives and sleeps in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He is the author of Translating The Avenues <\/em>and Mixtape <\/em>(both by Walleyed Press). <\/em>He also regularly shares his work via joshuarobertlong.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cRecessionary Bliss\u201d \u00a0 I: obscure mind a heartless drum a harrowing notice payments have been delayed, sir. breathing in and out the same the noise the same the view from the window the leafless branches the sun shining through just right like a spider’s lace there through the window damnation pays bills […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-things"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3445\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisissporkpress.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}