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"How do I look darling?" and "To kill a mockingbird" by Damien Posterino

How do I look darling?


Everybody is a drag queen in life

manicured in silky garbs

or wax museum faces

to suffocate their inner skin.


On the morning train

you carry an empty leather briefcase

crammed to overflow with lies

sat next to other men with heads hung low.


The smell of your lunchbox makes you wretch

as you unwrap another white bread sandwich-

canned pig hiding under shotgun cheese-

spill that crumb trail to your place in life.


Screwed up New Year’s resolutions

in the breast pocket of your dinner suit

that hasn’t been worn for years,

and doesn’t fit

unless you squeeze out like pus.


Seed already spread before you’re dead

so you can smile watching reality TV-

call the premium number and vote vicarious.


Reduced to yelling from the sidelines

at football games and strip bar shenanigans.

Have another shot, adjust your makeup.




To kill a mockingbird


I tried to walk on water for you.

My feet made star-shaped ripples


as I started to sink.

You spent the entire time smirking


and scrolling on your phone.

You didn’t even raise your head


when I stopped my hearts beat

to create suspense like an orchestra;


My only attention was a grasshopper

on a single green blade


rubbing his legs together in anticipation,

but his love song was for another.


The male mockingbird is a more prolific singer.

It yearns for attention,


mimicking the sound of anything.

Somebody look at me.




Damien Posterino (he/him) is a Melbourne-born poet writing in Mexico. His poetry explores themes of characters, commentary, and capturing moments in time. He has been published in recent editions of Fiery Scribe, Neuro Logical, Analogies & Allegories Literary Magazine, Abergavenny Small Press, BOMBFIRE, Jupiter Review, Fairy Piece, Poetic Sun Journal, Green Ink, Zero Readers, Melbourne Culture Corner, Sledgehammer Lit, and Rough Diamond. You can find him on Twitter @damienposterino

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