black box instructions
by G. Keilan Rickard

to pry open my black box
& rummage through its
documents pull hard
on that crowbar
of yours.

inside is a drop file of
property taxes
paid in fool’s gold

un
til the mortgage got
so high it munched
through my solvency,

a passport
, expired
like last month’s
sour cream,

& travel zine clippings
I stuffed between
a bourbon flask
& your picture.

take a long look

then suture it up
with booby traps
& duct tape
if you would.

please tuck it
out of sight & mind
you don’t
leave out any
pieces
of me you
never want
to see.
G. Keilan Rickard is a graduate student at Duquesne University, a poetaster in his spare time.
Fall 2008 Issue

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