edward anki – 3 poems

Seasons

Maybe it’s not about Monet
or the Dalai Lama or the
greatest stories never told
maybe actually
probably   
the universe
is exactly
the sum
of this
storage
locker
this 
Nintendo
cartridge
these 
Christmas
ornaments
this Abnormal Psychology textbook
this foraging through time 
for my winter
boots.


Engaged

Our new employee engagement platform
was going to enable our staff members
to send each other uplifting messages
of encouragement and appreciation
throughout each working day
best of all these messages
would be accompanied 
by a certain number of points
which could then be redeemed
for wonderful gifts.

Monday morning
nodding
smiling
feigning an appropriate amount of excitement
Monday morning
earning my keep. 


Entrance

I turned zero the day I was born.
I turned zero at North York General Hospital.
I turned zero at 9:23am.
I turned zero at the beginning of Spring.
I turned zero a day prior to turning one day. 
I turned zero involuntarily.
I turned zero unafraid of death.
I turned zero unclothed.
I turned zero orbiting a G-type main-sequence star.

I turned zero with a blood alcohol level of zero. 

I turned zero amongst strangers.


EDWARD ANKI'S poetry has appeared in Ballast Journal, Farewell Transmission, Anti-Heroin Chic, JAKE, BOMBFIRE, Rejection Letters, Roi Fainéant Press, and others. His first full-length poetry collection, Screw Factory, was released in 2022 by Anxiety Press New From Anxiety Press: Screw Factory (athinsliceofanxiety.com). A former stand-up comic, bartender, and agonized telemarketer, Edward is currently engaged in part-time studies to become a psychotherapist.

Twitter: @EAnki2
Instagram: eddieanki


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