POETRY

Poetry by Glen Armstrong

The Bedside Book of Threadbare

I never believed that you had driven
          downtown in nothing

but a frayed kimono

with an agenda as simple
as watching the sunrise.

I still believe, however,
          that you wished for life

to be that simple.

A twinge of psychological discomfort
          slows me down.

It tears me up

for some reason
that I’ve never spent
much time among windmills.

It’s going to be Dinty Moore beef stew again
          for lunch,

but you’re welcome
to join me.

We can spend the afternoon making
          something essential
          out of that impossible dream

that would have otherwise
haunted us.

Glen Armstrong holds an MFA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and teaches writing at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He edits a poetry journal called Cruel Garters and has three recent chapbooks: Set List (Bitchin Kitsch,) In Stone and The Most Awkward Silence of All (both Cruel Garters Press.) His work has appeared in Poetry Northwest, Conduit and Cloudbank.

Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with Glen on the Orson's Publishing blog.