Steven Minchin’s most recent poem to appear here was “Promise Land Spoils” (June 2018).

Head Stretch
By Steven Minchin

every time I tire of watching you
you wind up in my bed
one morning found you there
with a dull orange sharpie writing
poet on the back of your head
what reach reaching what a stretch

what did you say at the keyboard
about pockets of second grade
the poetaster aspect of sex
picks at the sensibilities
you set out to persuade
stanzas to importance

every time I tire of watching you
you winding up my bed
morning one found you there
with a stolen orange sharpie writing
nothing on the underside of my head
reaching for what what a stretch

what did you say at the headboard
about pickpockets second class
the amateur aspect of art
pushes last season’s allure as
you set out to persuade
pauses to importance

every time I tire of tiring you
you wind up in my bed
one more morning found you there
with a fake orange sharpie writing
repeat on the back of your head
stretching out to say, say what?