Who Am I?

Grasshoppers—my mother said stomp them; they mashed yellow green—follow me. 

OR

I believe hummingbirds—my mother loved them, called them flying jewels—follow me. 

My brother is an addict.

OR

I don’t know any addicts. 

I live with Billy. 

OR

My second husband is Joseph William. 

For now, we’re in a nice split-level on a hill in Mortgage Heights. 

OR

We rent. 

Joseph and I have declared bankruptcy twice. 

OR

Scared shitless of going bankrupt. 

 

I had a champion Afghan hound that won many ribbons. 

OR

My shelter pup panics whenever I leave home so I give her my mellow yellow pills and hope she won’t get hooked.

My favourite colour is yellow. 

OR

No fav colour except maybe pink if it’s not too fake. 

I collect inspirational fridge magnets. 

OR

If we didn’t rent, I’d collect prize-winning princess peonies. 

Karen (she/her) writes in a low Ontario basement. Her work is in or forthcoming in Janus Literary, Ellipsis Zine, Brink, Bullshit Lit,Flash Boulevard, The Viridian Door, Blink-Ink, and elsewhere.  @MeKawalker883