Visiting from Ohio
In New York men occupy your afternoon,
dusk slithering across the avenues
like a mother’s pinch during eucharist,
warning you to quiet any bramble thoughts
until you reach the basement party in Williamsburg.
In New York men smile as you wait the light,
and after Hello you realize you might
launder their expectations through
polite side hugs, dodging questions
about your cute accent or relationship status.
In New York men always leave you
wanting more, which never soothes
the sting of Where did we meet again?
—Ben Kline
__________
Hailing from the farm valleys of west Appalachia, Ben Kline lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, toiling away on his full-length manuscript and two chapbooks, drinking just the right amount of bourbon and more coffee than seems wise. His work is forthcoming or has recently appeared in Glass: A Journal of Poetry, petrichor, Riggwelter, Grist Online, Trailer Park Quarterly, Rappahannock Review, Toe Good, The Mantle, apt, ImageOutWrite Vol. 7, The Offing, and many more. You can read more at www.benkline.online.