By Tim Frank
My revenge will be to live well.
I’ll sink my teeth into slabs
Of steak,
Let the garlic butter ooze
From my lips
As Weiss beer bursts
Upon my eager tongue.
I’ll dream of ice-cold water
Pooling around my feet
And watch the evening game
While chaining cigarettes—
Blowing rings of smoke
At the waning moon,
Creating new plateaus
Of beauty
From my idle thoughts.
And yet, what good does living well
Really do?
We cruise
Through worlds aligned
But are judged by different gods—
Indifferent gods,
Not worthy of our prayers.
You’re a phantom figure
Beyond my vengeful reach.
So do your worst, my simple friend—
Set fire to your block
Make your children cry
Tim Frank’s work has been published in Bending Genres, X-R-A-Y Literary Magazine, Maudlin House, The Forge Literary Magazine, The Metaworker and elsewhere. He has been nominated for Best Small Fictions. His debut chapbook is, An Advert Can Be Beautiful in the Right Shade of Death (C22 Press ’24) and his second chapbook of poetry is, Delusions To Live By (Alien Buddha Press, ’25)
Twitter: @TimFrankquill