Charlie is distraught
twelve hour shifts at
the factory coupled
with a low fiber diet
has conspired to inflict
an agonizing case of
hemorrhoids upon his ass
Charlie tells me he had
an appointment with his
doctor and he's up there
on the table and the
doctor spreads his hairy
cheeks and all Charlie
can think of is that
Guns 'n' Roses song,
"Welcome to the Jungle"
I point out that at least
it wasn't an Elton John song
there was nothing
more excruciating
than being young
and in college
listening to the
unattainable girls
discuss their sex lives
Arianna in particular
who had gone from
Catholic school
virginity to community
college promiscuity
had a new tale
to tell daily
giving in depth
descriptions of her
first pearl necklace
while I had never
given a pearl necklace
I had certainly
given myself many
a pearl waistband
Karl Koweski's poetry and fiction have popped-up in a number of publications over the years, including Nerve Cowboy, The Crystal Drum, Vis-a-Septic and Lucid Moon, as well as previous appearances online in Gnome. Future Tense Press recently released Playthings a collection of his stories.