by Samantha Lê 

the one 
made up of consonants 
and super hero punches 
the guy with a secret name 
no one can pronounce 
like Chkps MwTrnkq or Dvjbtr Flk 
who adds chaos to conflicts 
the impatient demolition man 
the large-chested 
mambo conductor 

dear other guy 
this is no barge opera 
nor is it a bear on alvarado street 
but an urgent appeal for help 
in the a-e-i-o-u of manhood 
the long 
and short of it 
the microwave is no place 
for a flaky croissant 

I repeat: the microwave is no place 
for a flaky croissant

___

First published in Outlook Springs, Outlook Springs, NH, Issue No. 4, Winter 2018, pp. 71.