On Augusta, at the corner with Nassau
DS Maolalai
a metalhead
band-night
and an ex
in the arms
of another.
this muscle-
red steak-
type could
twist you
to noodles
and no doubt
does to her
on occasion.
a basement
in Kensington,
winter Toronto,
this illegal
sticky-carpet
after-hours
on Augusta
at the corner
with Nassau,
right beside
(underneath)
Embassy Bar.
cans for $5.50.
cheap cigarettes
speaking
and no-one
quite sure
how they made
their way
in. a life
in the moment
of things
you'll forget.
loud music
underground
pushing up trees
on the streets.
DS Maolalai has received eleven nominations for Best of the Net and seven for the Pushcart Prize. His poetry has been released in three collections, "Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden" (Encircle Press, 2016), "Sad Havoc Among the Birds" (Turas Press, 2019) and “Noble Rot” (Turas Press, 2022). You can find him on Twitter: @diarmo1990