Linoleum Milk

from Northern Sketches by Gary Bunting

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about

Linoleum Milk

I spread the margarine across the crumbly toast and take a bite
As the coffee whirlpools in the mug
The granules of sugar revolving and dissolving
I turn and accidentally knock
The four pint milk carton, full
From the worktop
It sways down towards the floor
Thuds on the lino in slow motion
And the lid explodes upward
Milk gushing towards the ceiling
Like an ivory Old Faithful
Before splatting down, around my bare feet
There’s milk on my toe nails
There’s milk on my jeans
There’s milk on the refrigerator
And everything in between
It lagoons around me
Shining, shining bright white
The carton gulping out mouthfuls
Like a cowboy in an old western
Dying in a noon showdown
Gulping out blood and his last words of love

By the time I’ve mopped up the semi-skimmed
And binned the soggy kitchen roll
My coffee’s worn cold
The margarine has sunk deep into the toast
Like a quagmire
The one bite missing from the corner
I pick up that slice
Bendy like a damp paperback novel
That’s been stored in the cellar
Year after year after year

So I start the process from scratch
Coffee-Sugar-Milk-Water.
Bread-Pop!-Toast-Margarine.
And finally I can take a seat
And let the day begin again

credits

from Northern Sketches, released October 22, 2021

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Hello America Stereo Cassette

A new record label releasing audio recordings of writers' work. Poems backed by noise. Novels as audio books. Stories on cassettes. Curated by Adam Gnade. Currently accepting submissions.

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