Sunday, October 5, 2008

Jeffrey Winke: REFLECTIVE TAPE STRIPES AROUND EACH LEG


With the 18-inch red glowing parking wand visible, the stout presence of Ernest stands solid in the dark boulevard wearing his fluorescent-yellow breathable safety pants with two horizontal reflective tape stripes around each leg that makes him feel god-like powerful while directing the steady flow of luxury automobiles streaming their headlights into the gated parking lot where he occasionally—just for fun—halts a shiny black Jaguar XK to a full stop to leer at the strapless twenty-something trophy sitting in the passenger seat while growling "you gotta slow down, bud-DEE" to the silver-haired captain of industry who glares at Ernest with utmost contempt.


closing time
bartender collects empties
filled with stories


by Jeffrey Winke
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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