by Rachel Turney
Gunfire and Sirens
Sometimes, it’s exhausting to pay off your sleep debt, especially while you’re wide awake. Thankfully, at the Naval War College, I majored in peace studies, so everything is pretty smooth sailing for me now. Have you visited the zoo lately? The Octothorpe is my favorite eight-legged animal. They offer a different kind of flavor profile than your average giant squid—as long as you have an axe to grind. Of course, it’s hard to prove the negative, but it’s always admirable to try to fill a social vacuum. Otherwise, yours are just empty threats. I’m not sure whether you’ve had a chance yet, to run circles around yourself—you know, like you were standing still—but I hear that once they’ve got you surrounded, a well-armed militia isn’t afraid to reveal its deepest emotions. For example, just listen to that aimless gunfire and the wail of the approaching sirens. Funny as it sounds, why not wake up laughing?
Brad Rose was born and raised in Los Angeles, and lives in Boston. He is the author of seven collections of poetry and flash fiction: I Wouldn’t Say That, Exactly, WordInEdgeWise, Lucky Animals, No. Wait. I Can Explain, Pink X-Ray, de/tonations, andMomentary Turbulence. His book of prose poems, Or Words to that Effect, is forthcoming. Eight times nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and three times nominated for the Best of the Net Anthology,Brad’spoetry and fiction have appeared in: The American Journal of Poetry, The Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Review, New York Quarterly, Lunch Ticket, Puerto del Sol, Clockhouse, Folio, Best Microfiction (2019), Action Spectacle, Right Hand Pointing, and other journals and anthologies. His website is www.bradrosepoetry.com Selected audio readings: http://bradrosepoetry.com/audio-readings/ https://www.facebook.com/bradrosepoetry
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Rachel Turney is an educator and artist located in Denver. Her disappearing chapbook Europe in Black and White is available on Blood + Honey July and August 2025. bloodhoneylit.com Blog: turneytalks.com Instagram: @turneytalks Bluesky: @rachelturney.