mallows

by Brian Conway

paunch extended
shirtless, seated
sippin’ on some beer

yoga-panted
vim and velcro
suddenly appears

wroughtly potted
straining sunward
flocks of foliage
leaves aflutter

living purdah
sloth and vigor
quarantined and
overeager

I thought we had an understanding,
all of us, had agreed,
that we might let ourselves go,
just a bit,
given the circumstances
of it all.

I thought we had an understanding.

Brian Conway is a writer and reporter based in Pittsburgh’s South Side.

City of Asylum believes that All Pittsburghers are Poets. With the Poem of the Week series, we seek to increase the readership and appreciation of poetry locally by publishing poems written by residents of Allegheny County of all ages and levels of experience. In partnership with the Poetry Editors at Sampsonia Way Magazine, City of Asylum advances our mission to defend, celebrate, and build on creative freedom of expression. This project received a RADical ImPAct Grant from RAD (Allegheny Regional Asset District).