Corner Standing - Ben Nardolilli

The passion put to corner,

dreaming, airplanes

from the dead time, 

I study lost saints,

the Mississippi

sweating its muddy bosom,

a sore in judgment 

I drip around men 

in earthly stores, like

my father, and my flow

is his grip,

the vague indifference,

is mine, 

steel balloons tied

all golden in language

So many steps into the river,

the chilled limbs

with the breath,

now just memories,

everyone standing as they turn

from smiles,

but still standing,

a strange effect

back slapped for a single day

Originally published by Fire Tetrahedron, 2016

Ben Nardolilli is a scrivener and a theoretical MFA candidate at Long Island University. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Door Is a Jar, The Delmarva Review, Red Fez, The Oklahoma Review, JMWW, Quail Bell Magazine, and Slab. Follow his publishing journey at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com.