A SPECIAL PRESENTATION: WAR

WAR–the father of all things; what is it good for; the ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner; never changes. It is also the subject of the latest special presentation by APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL. This humble psyop sleaze rag celebrated its YEAR ONE anniversary on the same evening that Russia invaded Ukraine, casting a long shadow of the possibility of … Continue reading A SPECIAL PRESENTATION: WAR

“WOUNDS OF PHOSPHOR”

Wounds of phosphor, wounds ofred jam smears.Swords of golden crosses, swords ofbroken seashells.Words of wrecked teeth, words ofvelvet serpents.Gears of clocks, gears of offshorecannonade that blow holes in bodies, makes wounds of phosphor,wounds ofred jam smears. -- John Tustin’s poetry has appeared in many disparate literary journals since 2009. fritzware.com/johntustinpoetry contains links to his published poetry online.

WOLFSANGEL

Gore covered the alley walls. Something lay hidden in shadow, just out of reach from the light of the rising sun. Rivulets of blood ran out towards the street. They stopped just short of a man’s military boots. “Back. Stay back!” Sgt. Logan stood at the mouth of the alley like a steel door. A … Continue reading WOLFSANGEL

SONGS FOR THE IRREGULARS

A Scavenger's Song I met a man who worked the plain like me,Who farmed the fruits of human ingenuity,And I tattooed him in my brain with dotted lines for cuts of meat. //We sat together, compared notes,On men who bleat and fall like goats.His head was tufted, poorly-weeded hair, hisEyes were clear and beautiful, irises … Continue reading SONGS FOR THE IRREGULARS

SEEPING EYES, TEETH OF WIRES, LIPS OF DISCORDANCE

I. I-84 and Holy War Winter in New England has always been regarded as beautifully magical despite it being quite unforgiving at times, but what people don’t tell you is that there’s actually something that we’ll just call the Connecticut Clause. This exception we’re pioneering here is for acknowledging that Connecticut has a unique existential dread permeating … Continue reading SEEPING EYES, TEETH OF WIRES, LIPS OF DISCORDANCE

“PRAYER”

Somewhere across the great plains of the world,an antelope is galloping away.He runs, and has been running for all time;and many a predator has tried its handat landing claws in that elusive hide.They seem to pass straight through and meet in prayer,the paws that clap together in his wake.Those killers are reduced to cats, brought … Continue reading “PRAYER”

“PASTORAL”

I. Bug-Out Bag It is April 2020And no one wants to do jihad anymoreThe bedrock trembles in its burial shroudYawning titans birth a plagueOur gods all seem to catch itAnd live, like oceans retching back black rain II. Shoot House, Autumn View West wind a truck on fireWrecking through these woodsBut I face itI am … Continue reading “PASTORAL”

ONCE UPON A TIME IN NINEVEH

I missed my appointment with Dr. Kassem because I arrived in Mosul three days late. The first hold-up occurred in Frankfurt where I was questioned by a domineering, blonde giantess over the purpose of my visit to the warzone. A mole on her upper lip. Bosom exerting pressure on her gaudy security uniform. Something out … Continue reading ONCE UPON A TIME IN NINEVEH

THE MOTHER OF WAR

I. -- For the 19th century Sikh theologian Bhai Avtar Singh Vahiria, the Devi is void, hole, nullity— bindu, sifr. The creative womb, the primordial nothing, zero, empty in itself; penetrated by God’s will, it birthed the chaos of multiplicity. Sikh martial scripture says the first thing God created was the sword. The sword is … Continue reading THE MOTHER OF WAR

“IN THE MOUNTAINS”

Riding on top of a horseWhere dead men hangFrom the raftersMaybe your father is a beastBrought home on a cartPulled by oxenYou are a boy, given purple flowerThen you are a manhanded purple flower and sword -- Sean Bronson works as an English teacher overseas. On his free time, he likes to travel the world. … Continue reading “IN THE MOUNTAINS”