My Cardboard Balcony

Black Lives Matter by Belinda Roddie Ahmaud Arbery did not deserve to die. Justice for Ahmaud!

The Pooches' Perfect Crime by Belinda Roddie The dogs were happy to keep their humans at home.

That Smile by Belinda Roddie Love is photogenic, and at various angeles, she shows perspectives one can only capture by a dirty camera lens: Clean it, and the glare and flare both get in the way. But between the spots and smudges, you can count how many times she said, "I'm here for you." How many times she reminded you, "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." By the time you've gotten a hold on Love, she spins between your fingers, but the glitter she sheds sticks to the skin - you can never truly shake it off, no matter how much you've been hurt. "It's not a big deal. Don't be so hard on yourself." "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you." And one by one, the sequins become stars in a sky personally woven just for you and her. Love is not afraid of showing her "ugly side." She adores her double chin, her love handles, her wrinkles, crow's feet, and many, many stretch marks. A...

Making My Bed And Lying In It by Belinda Roddie I made some killer guacamole. No more room for dinner.

Old Glory's Edge by Belinda Roddie In this mad, mad, mad world, we cling to iced tea from Starbucks and original dessert recipes on Facebook, and Star Wars memes on May the 4th. We sing along, loudly, with one another on video calls and try desperately to ignore the lag. Echoes of our own melodies in personal choirs. When we return to school, the desks will smell like abandonment issues. And the whiteboards will carry memories on their faces. Memories immune to wipes and sprays. Now scratched out in Arial font. Meanwhile, legs atrophy when crossed too long in meditation or prayer. Up north, the swarms of orange striped beasts are amassing in rotten wood. A man screams in smoke signals as his house belches up pipe bombs in Colorado. The angry insects scream for beaches, for haircuts. Herd Immunity finds its straw hat stolen by Eugenics, who wears it after setting fire to its brim. Freedom is traded for one's life, though once that life is sliced...

All Around Me by Belinda Roddie Sometimes, my friends, the greatest tragedies are the smallest ones.

No More Fancy Shots by Belinda Roddie The man in the straw hat's drunk off his ass.