by Emalene Lillipore
We’re All in This Together
Like my lounge wear? I left the party ones at home. I think they may have been contributing to global warming. At least that’s what my accountant told me. As you might expect, he’s an amateur climatologist. I guess in an alternate universe, everyone’s got a second job? Remember, the absence of presence should never be mistaken for the presence of absence, even though we’re all at the callous mercy of friction and gravity, no matter how tall we might be. Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m laid-back or merely relaxed. I’m not fond of music, but I’m a pretty good dancer. I like doing those transparent dances, like the x-ray ones with the strong-arm tactics and the secret slush-fund footwork? Extortionist corporations are people, too, you know. It doesn’t matter how bankrupt they are. Not one iota. Luckily for everyone, ransom money is tax deductible.
Brad Rose was born and raised in Los Angeles, and lives in Boston. He is the author of five collections of poetry and flash fiction: Lucky Animals, No. Wait. I Can Explain, Pink X-Ray, de/tonations, and Momentary Turbulence. His poetry collections WordInEdgeWise, and I Wouldn’t Say That, Exactly, are 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 https://soundcloud.com/bradrose1 https://www.facebook.com/bradrosepoetry https://x.com/LolaluvsRichard https://www.threads.net/@moomoocamus https://www.instagram.com/moomoocamus/
Emalene Lillipore has an affinity for long lost spaces, places, and lovers. Staying true to her Iranian heritage, she has rooted most of her understandings of life and romance into a carefully curated expression of self. Emalene is currently based in North America, uses she/her pronouns, and documents her life through photography, videography, floristry, and poetry. Her project’s goal is to uncover the hidden moments that rest quietly in the pursuit of love and romance, both platonic and romantic. You can find more of her work on Instagram
and Tumblr, under the handle @loveyouseeyousoon.