Tag: ben nardolilli

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A Lowkey Search for Something Long-Term – Ben Nardolilli

A Lowkey Search for Something Long-Term

She laughs at me as I stand in the mirror and says 

I should be so glad to be losing so much! 

My mind? I ask. 

No, so much weight, she replies. 

All trace of stomach, gone. 

How educational these days must be for me. 

How high, how high my character must be, 

she laughs, and looks up, 

there it is! On the ceiling, judging us all! 

I say she’s fine as she is. 

She shakes her head, no, 

and anyway, she continues, it’s judging you too. 

She wishes she could go on my diet, 

visions and the gifts of parties, 

alas, bureaucrats and husbands won’t allow it, 

Afterwards, 

she turns on her side and goes to sleep. 

I look at the ceiling, and end my day in wonder. 

Ben Nardolilli currently lives in New York City. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Red Fez, Danse Macabre, The 22 Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, Elimae, The Northampton Review, Local Train Magazine, The Minetta Review, and Yes Poetry. He blogs at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com and is trying to publish a novel.

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The American Selfcare System – Ben Nardolilli

This poem is the first of two by Ben that we will be posting. The dry, upfront way in which he handles the subject of each respective piece won us over easily. Enjoy.

The American Selfcare System

Fever? Sure, it’s rising around my ears 

and soaking into my forehead, am I red? Always, 

but this afternoon, I feel it. Drop some water 

on me and watch the steam. 

There’s enough energy here for a city of lights, 

what a shame it’s all going to waste. 

Popular theory: it’s another germ 

germinating inside of me, and why’s that? 

I’ve got a sore throat too, of course. 

It makes sense to blame it on invasions unseen 

that seem to be attacking me 

from my ankles, to my neck, to my forehead. 

Unpopular, romantic theory: I’m red 

because a whiff of spring is loose in the air 

and I’m rendered electric over sudden possibilities 

that the winter months shut up. 

There’ll be rain, but the rain will refresh, 

and there’ll be no more snow to contend with. 

Ben Nardolilli currently lives in New York City. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Red Fez, Danse Macabre, The 22 Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, Elimae, The Northampton Review, Local Train Magazine, The Minetta Review, and Yes Poetry. He blogs at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com and is trying to publish a novel.