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Brad Rose

No Way, Shape, or Form

I’m famous for my anonymity. Last night, I came home, hung my clothes on the floor--I don’t like to show any favoritism to my attire, especially on special occasions. Now, I’m taking decisive action steps, tiptoeing around the problem. How quickly time flies when you’re chased by the police, although I don’t think they notice. Does the forest detect the escaping trees? Is the sea disturbed by the roar of the waves? By the way, I almost forgot to mention the secret dancing. Like a Halloween party at Miss Milton’s Charm Academy, the steps are tricky, but once you learn them, they can’t hurt your feelings. Don’t pay any attention to your unwanted thoughts. They may be the answer to your heart’s desire, whether you have one or not. Time is hidden in the future, even when you’re on a speaker phone. As the great European explorers demonstrated, a world without curiosity is a world without conquest, but honestly, how would you like it if I invited suicide bombers to your funeral? God would just get in the way.

Brad Rose was born and raised in Los Angeles and lives in Boston. He is the author of a collection of poetry and flash fiction, Pink X-Ray (Big Table Publishing, 2015 http://pinkx-ray.com) His new book of poems, Momentary Turbulence, is forthcoming from Cervena Barva Press. Brad is also the author of five chapbooks of poetry and flash fiction, Democracy of Secrets, Coyotes Circle the Party Store, Dancing School Nerves, An Evil Twin is Always in Good Company, and Away with Words. Twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Brad’s poetry and fiction have appeared in, The American Journal of Poetry, The Los Angeles Times, sleetmagazine.com, The Potomac, Folio, decomP, Lunch Ticket, The Baltimore Review, Posit, The Midwest Quarterly, Clockhouse, Boston Literary Magazine, Right Hand Pointing, and other publications. Brad’s website is: www.bradrosepoetry.com
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