to tie to my kitchen chair. Must understand cats
and have no qualm with cheese in a can.
Looking for a man who can chew through ropes,
enchant me with feral flexibility, get my hopes up
by saving spiders, is not put off by double standards but refuses
to let them collect dust. In 50 words or less I want a man
who makes strawberry cake from a box, will wake me
when Jesus takes the neighbors but leaves us behind,
makes me laugh at funerals, is quick to take my side, cleans
the litter box when I am drunk and never asks what’s in the trunk.
Priestess of Pan seeks creature to unwind with,
drink wine with, must be kind without being too nice.
X-ray vision and crystal ball a plus. I will swallow
and praise you at your worst. I will trim your toenails,
call your mother, give into you when you need a win, raise bail,
raise hell, raise the roof with you, praise the Lord for you.
My love commando, bruised banana, handsome enigmatic arrow
press your dirty mouth into my hand and I will shave for you,
misbehave with you, pillow fight you, laugh all night while
envious saints wring hands, seeing where this legend lands.
Michelle Stoll is a Southern writer, living most of her life in Virginia, and now back in her hometown of North Little Rock, AR. She holds an M.F.A. from Mississippi University for Women. Her poetry has appeared in journals such as River Heron Review, Rock Paper Poem, SLANT, Crosswinds, Galway Review, Rat’s Ass review, and others. She was a finalist for the 2023 River Heron Poetry Prize and was shortlisted for the 2022 Wigtown Poetry Prize. Michelle is a master naturalist, a world traveler, and supports most well-intentioned shenanigans.
Image: Found photo, Gramercy Park, NYC, 1999
Pine Hills Review 