Creative Writing from
Fairleigh Dickinson University

i am the preacher

Rob Kolbasowski

i am raw religion i
am a preacher i
feel my wife's breast i
covered it with Scripture i
came inside her i justified and i
am all right with my Maker i
could be a toy of God i...

don't say that but i
thought it- because i
hid when He
closed for the day
yet we all believe
we're Heaven-sent and Heaven-bent and
flow and sex and afterglow
are part of our package.

i am raw religion i
am a leader i
beat my children but Hell
you beat yours- i
said Hell i
am foul but Heaven-sent and Heaven-bent i
can't be sorry now.

Sodominator

Rob Kolbasowski

i get so scared to pick up this pen-
pick up this thought, pick up this world.
(but if i stray too long)

i billow away like a plastic bag filled with styrofoam peanuts,
my life heavy until the next summer wind blows me towards the dunes.
so softly into sand i sink, all circulating warm air and twisty skin.

the heft of sins i have borne
hang onto my billowy brown forearms-
they make an impression and constrict my motion
but i find every way possible 'round obstacles.

*standby*

we interrupt the real me to present you with the one you see,
the me that smiles and sings about trees.
a pinhole of light escapes from my Adam's Apple,
but i'll have you believe that i am the coming dawn like
i am this juicy piece of ripened fruit-
all transcendental and philosophical.

and that is when i have you-
when you beat your hands against pliable plastic
walls that reek of rot and secrets.

i get so scared to pick up this pen, i get so scared of the me that lies between the blue
lines.
i am scared.
i am.
i.

The Love Song

Rob Kolbasowski

I can't even brush
you out of my teeth.