Hot Wifer

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…had no problem giving it away

Struggle to give away what everyone else tosses out

A beast of bad habits

Free love is the lifestyle

You called me a young lady as if it was a bad thing

I’m not your fallback girl with waterfall hair

Should I refer to you as an old man?

What if I identified as non-binary?

Would you find that nonsensical?

Are you old fashioned?

Have you heard any top 40 songs?

Do you think about your occupation?

How do you waste your time?

Behind the wheel taking me…

By Samantha Merz

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Terse

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…but not a curse

A place could be haunted and vaunted

Standing up against a polemic public

Bygone bright orange pylon

Thinking of my fair weather friend

Didn’t move away or stray

Can’t find my backpack

Windmill out of my window sill

What if you destroy or lose something that you love?

Only originals, not copies

Your name is an adjective, an expression

It’s…

 

By Samantha Merz

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Drive Straight

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…area to walk across 

If you’re a cyclist, keep going 

I don’t want to cooperate  

My version of sharing space 

Everybody does their thing 

Stalled at the intersection 

Rough days 

You can honk at me or ask me what my problem is while I stare in silence 

I can text or talk on the phone all day if you can still pass me 

Am I at fault?  

I don’t have only 30 seconds to cross if there aren’t any lit up signs for pedestrians 

If it’s nighttime, I try to be cautious 

Sometimes I try to be courteous and race…


By Samantha Merz

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Polvo

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…popular main course in Portuguese culture

Salada de polvo

Not to be confused with chicken salad

Polvo does not mean poultry

Translates to octopus

Found this out the hard way while out for dinner

It was a group setting

Ordered the dish without a second thought

When it arrived at the table, I was confused

The server clarified that the octopus salad was for me

My mouth replied thank you but my eyes stared at the table

Laughter and inside jokes came from my…

By Samantha Merz

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Paragon Paradise

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…by pyrography

Best friends with a child prodigy

Singing to myself while spinning in circles

The festival was lively with entertainment

Admiring black lacquer jewelry boxes and ruby glassware

No more lovely music or twirling ballerinas

Likes the idea of having decorative plates instead of serving plates

A bird statue placed in front of a handheld fan

Remembering the professor who studies paradigms

Would rather be caught up in tediousness

They didn't beg but I didn't protest

Familiar stare due to similar…

By Samantha Merz

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