THE SPEAKER OF THIS POEM IS WITHOUT HOPE

before our world ends
i want you to know
i don't have a foot fetish
i just really liked how
your red painted toes
resembled exit wounds
on the dashboard
that's why i took that
picture that's why i almost
totalled our brand new
toyota camry it wasn't for
any sexual reason
but purely aesthetical
i promise i like only
totally normal parts
like breasts lips and legs
yes i am completely
absolutely forever
one normal guy who
doesn't have a foot fetish
i can swear that
on your pungent vans
my mother's fetid grave

BARTENDER

i slice the top of my thumb
clean off
cutting up limes
for garnishes

blood soaks
everything

i have to throw out
three limes

i wash hands
bandage myself

customers are coming
so i eat the tenth of an inch
of separated flesh

i don't know what else to do

as long as i can still
play video games

as long as i can
do that move
where two fingers
play inside you
as my thumb presses
against your taint

technically
i'm whole for now

MOUTH HERPES

at least this proves
i'm getting some

Cletus Crow is mostly a poet. His full-length collection, Phallic Symbols, is out from Pig Roast Publishing. Jesus Freak is out soon.