First World Problem

By Lance Jencks

I have the inclination 

to shut down my tablet,

just as I realize

the tablet must be on

to turn off the air

conditioner.

About the author

Lance Jencks has been writing poetry for fifty years. In the 1970s he earned an MFA in Playwriting and a PhD in Contemporary Theatre. In the 1980s he published his verse-based roman á clef, "The Wisdom of Southern California," then toured that region with a one-man show of the same name. Lance has been an advertising copywriter, a stock-and-bond broker, and the guy who hooks your car to the chain at the car wash. He lives today in Newport Beach, California, where he was recently featured in the epic bodysurfing movie "Dirty Old Wedge" on Amazon.

Road to Big Sur

By Lance Jencks

For Lawrence Ferlinghetti

When I ate a croissant in bed,
flakes of brown crust
fell upon my pillow,
fell atop the sheets,
and made the white down comforter
resemble a speckled trout
whacked upside the head,
eyes akimbo,
ready for the pan.
Once it was me awaiting the pan,
grunting and spawning,
never alone.
Now I remember those days as buttered flakes
sprinkled about,
offsetting white:
waiting for hotel staff
to set things right.

About the author
Lance Jencks has been writing poetry for fifty years. In the 1970s he earned an MFA in Playwriting and a PhD in Contemporary Theatre. In the 1980s he published his verse-based roman á clef, "The Wisdom of Southern California," then toured that region with a one-man show of the same name. Lance has been an advertising copywriter, a stock-and-bond broker, and the guy who hooks your car to the chain at the car wash. He lives today in Newport Beach, California, where he was recently featured in the epic bodysurfing movie "Dirty Old Wedge" on Amazon.

Natural Events

By Lance Jencks

Trees

on a high angled ridge,

anchor themselves against clouds.

Foreground contours of hills

disappear. Flying bugs swarm,

folks gather: quiet

rustling creatures

in the dark.

Mistakes

walk through his brain:

pigeon flown,

client gone.

loss after loss after loss.

Yet these are the finest fresh apricots

he's eaten; this is the rarest

of stones.

About the author
Lance Jencks has been writing poetry for fifty years. In the 1970s he earned an MFA in Playwriting and a PhD in Contemporary Theatre. In the 1980s he published his verse-based roman á clef, "The Wisdom of Southern California," then toured that region with a one-man show of the same name. Lance has been an advertising copywriter, a stock-and-bond broker, and the guy who hooks your car to the chain at the car wash. He lives today in Newport Beach, California, where he was recently featured in the epic bodysurfing movie "Dirty Old Wedge" on Amazon.

My Universe

By Lance Jencks

The universe is not heartless:

millions of hearts reside within.

Not only cold, this universe,

but warmth by a fire.

Tell me the universe does not think,

I point to a brain.

Tell me it doesn't care-

I say, some of us do.

O do not exclude what is part of the All

from its essence.

Don't see the lifeless

and say nothing lives.

You are part of the universe too:

you're one of its features.

About the author
Lance Jencks has been writing poetry for fifty years. In the 1970s he earned an MFA in Playwriting and a PhD in Contemporary Theatre. In the 1980s he published his verse-based roman á clef, "The Wisdom of Southern California," then toured that region with a one-man show of the same name. Lance has been an advertising copywriter, a stock-and-bond broker, and the guy who hooks your car to the chain at the car wash. He lives today in Newport Beach, California, where he was recently featured in the epic bodysurfing movie "Dirty Old Wedge" on Amazon.

Big Green Lizard

By Lance Jencks

Scampers from his post

toward my outdoor coffee table

topped with glass.

I take another toke;

ask why he would do this

unless we had some certain

rapport. Maybe

he's my friend

after all.

Maybe he knows

I'm his.

About the author

Lance Jencks has been writing poetry for fifty years. In the 1970s he earned an MFA in Playwriting and a PhD in Contemporary Theatre. In the 1980s he published his verse-based roman á clef, "The Wisdom of Southern California," then toured that region with a one-man show of the same name. Lance has been an advertising copywriter, a stock-and-bond broker, and the guy who hooks your car to the chain at the car wash. He lives today in Newport Beach, California, where he was recently featured in the epic bodysurfing movie "Dirty Old Wedge" on Amazon.

untitled

By Tamara Binsfeld

I'm really not feeling it

The Veteran's Day arctic expedition

The unseasonable assault of

Nature offended

The Garden of Eden in

Full on revenge

Waiting for corporate cupidity to die for it's own sins

Instead of this hamster wheel of vicarious atonement

Braving the elements for a lousy fifty bucks

This sucks

I'm not even sure

What's right anymore

Doing what they say when

They never do what I do

Not like I can't or won't or even shouldn't, for that matter

Just that I don't want to

And half a pot of coffee, a big bowl of oatmeal, and a modified version of Chloe Ting's ab workout have yet to fuel my resolve

Knowing my heels will be dug into half a foot of snow

Whether I go to work or not

But at least if I stay home, I can shovel at my leisure

Without being exhausted by achy old biddies

Sitting pretty in the assisted living facility I'll never be able to afford

Reciting the spoiled rotten croakery of a long expired generation

As I type out my very own death sentence

On bald tires and bad rotors

For a boss who insults me under their breath

For doing what they say

Not what they do

All while being the element they themselves are afraid to brave

A living, breathing parable

A mirror to how terrible they truly are

The lowest bar

The legislators of slave labor

Sharing the holiday meal with their families

Ignoring the famine afflicting their serfs

A lousy 50 bucks

And no fucks to give for it

Anyone want to join me?

I think I'm calling out after all

About the author
As a writer, Tamara Binsfeld is a polyamorous whore, carelessly flinging her deepest thoughts against the wall for anyone to casually lick like a Blarney stone for the broken. But in the real world, she's made a name for herself telling the boss how much she hates her job, and dedicates her spare time to curling bars for the revolution, never ending fasting rituals, and perfecting the pose of chihuahua furniture.