Bio- Dan Flore III’s poems have appeared in many publications. His 6 poetry books are Lapping Water, Humbled Wise Men Christmas Haikus, Home and other places I’ve yet to see, Pink Marigold Rays,(Gen Z Publishing) Written in the dust on the ceiling fan, (Dead Man’s Press Ink.) and Hospital Issued Writing Notebook.(Querencia Press)

SLEEPWALKING

he was walking
his dog
and the sky
was white
as zit ooze
and everything
was boring.

I said fuck it
and cracked open
my third energy drink
in a row
hoping the sugar high
would change how
it was all wrong.

the whole town
was asleep
and I just wanted to wake up
but it didn’t matter
how much caffeine
I ingested
everything looked like
an overflowing garbage bag
and I was too tired
to take out the trash.

NOBODY KNOWS HOW BAD IT’S REALLY GOTTEN

lying down
with the covers over you
knowing no one is going to call
the fan blowing and blowing
the noise is of no comfort
it used to relax you
the cat’s hiding
your wife is on the phone
you’re sick of wondering
you're sick of your aimless daydreaming
and nobody knows
how bad it’s really gotten
you get up and smoke
you pour yourself a drink
somehow you remember to pray
but it feels like you’re talking to nothing
you rub the cross around your neck
you don’t feel ok
you go inside
the lights are out
it’s all dark
your wife has gone to bed
you think about ghosts in the wine glass
you talk to them
people you know
people you’ve forgotten about till now
you wonder how you have gotten so forgotten
you put on the TV
the news
it only makes things worse
you're looking for something to ease you
you lay down on the couch
and right before you got to sleep
you whisper to no one in particular 
I hope I don’t wake up

MY WIFE’S HANDWRITING

I was watching
my wife write

her words
were like 

printed butterflies 
on the page


BIRDSONGS

can’t you be content
just listening
to the birds

they’ve been up
all morning
waiting for you