Are the words in the dictionary fiction or non-fiction? Of course, I don’t get the sleep I deserve. Like animal crackers devoured at the petting zoo, you can just imagine the tragic highlights. Since the total Internet eclipse, I’ve grown tired of advertising myself to myself, so in the future, I’m only going to write myself hand-written love letters. It’s a no-brainer, don’t you think? In fact, I’m as smart as I’m ever going to be, and then some. That’s why I remarried my ex-wife, twice. So far, the pleasure’s all mine, or so she tells me – like being tickled by farm equipment. Meanwhile, at the zoo, the animals cry at the cruelty of the torrential weather, especially the giraffes. Their long, slender necks, skinny as a stick of freckled celery – their heads proud and elegant – although the latter tend to snap off, even in the faintest breeze.
Brad Rose was born and raised in Los Angeles and now lives in Boston. He is the author of five collections of poetry and flash fiction. His latest book of prose poems, Lucky Animals, was released in March, 2023. Previous collections include No. Wait. I Can Explain., Pink X-Ray, de/tonations, and Momentary Turbulence. WordInEdgeWise is forthcoming. Seven times nominated for a Pushcart Prize and three times nominated for the Best of the Net Anthology, Brad’s poetry and fiction have appeared in Los Angeles Times, The American Journal of Poetry, New York Quarterly, Puerto del Sol, Clockhouse, Folio, Cloudbank, Baltimore Review, 45th Parallel, Best Microfiction 2019, Lunch Ticket, Sequestrum, Unbroken, Right Hand Pointing, and other publications. Brad is also the author of seven poetry chapbooks, among them: Democracy of Secrets, Collateral, An Evil Twin is Always in Good Company, and Funny You Should Ask. His website and blog can be found at bradrosepoetry.com.