Distressed Boyfriend Khakis
Martha Silano
sending distress signals
emitting smoke burning flares
distressed boyfriend khakis
unlike perfect khakis pressed
distressed cutting edge
shabby chic raw hide sticks
stones dried grasses
relaxed boyfriend fit
distressed boyfriend releasing
firing pin one-minute intervals
raising lowering both arms slowly
distressed details vary heavy
abrasions creased ripped lived-in
enzyme stone-washed casually
cuffed distressed boyfriend
mayday mayday mayday
shave fabric disposable razor
blow lint prevent clogging repeat
distressed synthetic boyfriend
IED shirt melting skin
hand-held ariel burning barrel
girlfriend in boyfriend’s ripped repair
hiding in one of eight pockets distressed
girlfriend dressed like boyfriend
in boyfriend-like khakis girlfriend
forming the letter Y girlfriend
adrift degree location GPS continuous
grave strobe grave blasts grave weft
distressed beacon boyfriend
girlfriend screaming SOS
Martha Silano’s books include The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception, recipient of the 2010 Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize, and Reckless Lovely (Saturnalia Books 2014). She also co-edited, with Kelli Russell Agodon, The Daily Poet: Day-By-Day Prompts For Your Writing Practice (Two Sylvias Press 2013). Her poems have recently appeared or are forthcoming in Poetry, Blackbird, AGNI, New Ohio Review, Sou’wester, and Orion. Martha edits Crab Creek Review and teaches at Bellevue College.