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"Loading the Truck", "A Thriving Virus", & "The Folly of Being Quenched" by Richard LeDue



Loading the Truck


Sweat glistening on my forehead

like some family heirloom

I've always thought worth more

than it truly is, while the rain 

drops pelt me, as if spit 

from a broken hearted lover,

who refuses to accept grey clouds

never last, and my hands weaken

just enough to give me the strength

to finish a chore done 

because of love. 



A Thriving Virus


Death shaped flowers 

bought with a credit card

that needed a sad phone call

a few hours earlier

to increase the card's limit,

and they say living isn't cheap,

but I've learned that dying isn't

either, especially as a case of beer

jingled a dirge in our backseat,

or was it a hymn to St. Matthew?


Regardless, the interest grew

like a thriving virus,

smart enough to only spread

sickness, and not to kill.



The Folly of Being Quenched


Whisky yellow like the sun,

while water bottles are full 

as coffins on a grey day, 

when guilt louder 

than a fierce rain,

and we all know water

is needed for life,

yet underestimate thirst

(literal or otherwise),

grabbing us by the throat

just rough enough to make us

forget whatever we did wrong.






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