Minimalist Gossip Magazine Cover (49).pdf (23) - Flipbook - Page 59
CHARACTER STUDY
by Kim Silva
There is a big white dog sitting on a Persian rug. Great drops of red drool drip out of
his
happy mouth. From the top of his head emerges a woman, the kind that frequents and throws
grand parties. Her lipsticked smile is stretched back tightly; her teeth are like a white
barricade, a fence. It’s how she might greet a friend at a soiree, saying Darling you
look marvelous, how are you darling, so good to see you, dear. Kiss kiss both cheeks.
Her eyes are buried under thick false eyelashes, making them look like black holes. On
her
head she wears a plastic bubble not unlike an astronaut’s helmet. The family dog is her
rocket. She straddles him waiting for them to shoot through the high ceiling to the moon.
A pink rubbery being with tentacles tugs at the dog’s fur, tries to warn the rocket dog.
After getting no answer, he drifts upward to knock on the bubble of the lady’s helmet. He
wants her to see that this is no rocket, lady, this is a dog. And the red drops coming
out of the dog’s mouth aren’t blood, they are wine drops for she is insisting on drinking
wine for a journey to the moon which isn’t going to happen since she is drunk. The pink
thing hangs his head in sorrow, drifts away from the two, floats out of the window,
dragging his tentacles behind him.
Aimed at the Moon
The three flower people know no gender
nor do they know species
they are light with sea blue, with lace
flowers large as dinner plates hide their shoes
One flower stands tall with epaulets of hyacinths on its shoulders
Another flower is smaller, church-starched,
striped tie, hair parted on the side
a red bird perched atop his head
The tallest one is languid, protective, with fish scales on his body
brilliant blue against the black.
all three flowers are looking in the same direction
their gaze, three quarter view, as if soldiers; stoic, stalwart,
their guns aimed at the moon.
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