Arthur Graham’s Reviews > HSTQ: Summer 2025 > Status Update

They were on the news again —
the objects in the sky.
There was footage of 2 hovering
above a cornfield in New Jersey,
then a reporter was interviewing
2 guys on the street.

“what’s a matter”
you said
“you worried you’re gay
or something?
doesn’t this feel good?”

and it did feel good,
but I couldn’t get over
how your mustache
felt like sandpaper
and your beard
felt like more sandpaper
and your eyes
drilled into me
with a lust
I could not possibly replicate

Drinking wine from a teacup
in the cheapest room in town,
like one you'd kill yourself
or die alone in

Someone’s out there
crossing train tracks
and roads
kissing the night hello
someone’s quiet
with their ear to my heart

we think in chromium and arsenic
cutting up and folding in
the acid trips
of heavy metal parking lots

we smoke
slam nuclei into each other
exist for a fraction
then disappear into other elements

Casey Renee Kiser
Non-body Count

Saw a stranger today by the blood pool
He had that sunkissed-moontwist-killer kool
Bats surrounded; desire swings upside down
Day and night would surely fingerpaint the town
Yeah-No, no, I didn’t dare follow this time-
Paper thin soles only run on rebel rhyme
‘Cuz I’ve got my own kink of killer kool too
Don’t need another ghost talkin’ bout bitch boo