LOW DOWN HAIKU BITTERSUITE [6] i. Microbiophobia [2] During pre-COVID, precocious an asset; now pre-cautious preferred. Masked, we insisted all kids still stalked us got sealed in small Ziplock bags. ii. Boogie Street [4] O Crown of Light, O Darkened One, I never thought we’d meet. You kiss my lips, and then it’s done: -- Leonard Cohen Our boulevard now a network of fortresses,* mostly over-schooled elitists maintain chow Valhallas: fishmongers leave best catch at door while on your side of freeway food deserts still rule. Flashlights under chin poor people’s distress COVID accelerated -- zombie apocalypse? * Yuval Harari phrase iii. Phoenix [2] De facto divorce mostly invisible ‘til COVID confinement can new mutual reliance rekindle flames of what once was ours? iv. Thorn Rose so beautiful, sweet -- you must beware toxic but exotic spikes. v. JewBu’s Sacred Learning Curve [3] Boychick’s voyage first launched, my point of publication her Buddhist journal girl assured me, I care more about soft soulful hearts than your hard head’s capability, connections, collateral, career carryings-on. vi. Muse [2] Grocery shopping out to lunch since sequestered, plus not too much else happening here, roles bleed into same house and seat -- imagination?
Gerard Sarnat MD’s won San Francisco Poetry’s 2020 Contest, Poetry in Arts First Place Award/Dorfman Prizes; nominated for handfuls of recent Pushcarts/Best of Net Awards; authored HOMELESS CHRONICLES (2010), Disputes, 17s, Melting Ice King (2016). He’s widely published including by academic-related journals Stanford, Oberlin, Wesleyan, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Pomona, Brown, Penn, Dartmouth, Columbia, University Chicago; Ulster, Gargoyle, Main Street Rag, Northampton Review, American Journal Poetry, Vonnegut Journal, 2020 International Human Rights Art Festival, Poetry Quarterly, New Delta Review, Buddhist Review, Brooklyn Review, LA Review, San Francisco Magazine, New York Times. Mount Analogue selected KADDISH for distribution nationwide Inauguration Day.
Grand Little Things 