Kara Imre

There is a cake in the VCR

There is a cake in the VCR instead of not. I am in trouble cause I baked a TV who’s having a baby. The baby is stuck and now the guests are pissed. I am a by-stander, did not use antennas. Recipe called for motion, only. Action, movie. The TV needs a C-section. Cut. Driving to the mall. Riding escalators like they’ll take me to dinosaurs. It’s called the land before mine. I am out of AA batteries. The cashier is bitchy, wears a bun of hair. I am running under fluorescent lights next to toy stores. There is a boy over my shoulder selling puzzles. Take two. Remote in tact. The cake is wound up. She ejects eventually. I put on my party hat and everyone gives me their plate. I hang the piñata and everyone goes on hitting.

(I was in this forest of frosting)

I was in this forest of frosting
and I licked the top.

I was in this forest of frosting
and the trees were totally baked.

I was in this forest of frosting
and the cake-people had eyes.

I was in this forest of frosting
and there was no funfetti.

I was in this forest of frosting
and the birds held knives.

I was in this forest of frosting
and everything was dead but me.

a vampire vetoed my valentine

dropped a blob of blood on the blank
next to “NO” ---
Didn't want my skin
that never fit in
in the fourth grade
or this modern age
with too many candles
too little cake.
Could have guessed
he wouldn't check next
to “YES.”
It's this half heart
folded: the make of me
made to ache
each morning
in waking.
It's wanting.
P.S. haunting.