My Cardboard Balcony

Crossing by Belinda Roddie Let us strum our harps to your cello, strike guitar chords to your tambourine, and sing to the skies on an island afternoon that fades into evening far too quickly. Let us consume sushi and soup and have picnics under cedars, while you knock on neighbors' doors and invite yourself in, much to their delight. Let us build you a bed fit for mermaids as we explore new horizons, even from the limitations of our condominiums and apartments and townhouses.

Age Of Sentimentality by Belinda Roddie I waited for you. I grew old waiting for you.

Hello Again by Belinda Roddie Unruly as I am, this reunion has simmered my soul rather than stirred it up like frothing magma in a naturally carved cauldron. The embrace is temporary, yet warm.

Happy International Non-Binary People's Day! by Belinda Roddie I'm proud to be a super fabulous enby! Fuck gender!

Mother Dearest by Belinda Roddie Mother knew best. Mother knew how to leave ugly scars.

Breathing Fire by Belinda Roddie My newest tattoo consists of two rainbow dragons making out.

by Belinda Roddie Seltzer water tastes like TV static. It's just the sheer feeling of electricity and disappointment. But it was all I could drink when the water was shut off during a hot afternoon, so that ghost is going to haunt me like an continual shock from a shag rug. On the TV itself, they were replaying the 2012 World Series. Go, Giants. I thought about calling my mom and seeing if I could drive over to her place. I would kill for a cold glass of tap water right now. She didn't pick up the phone. I remember her telling me two days back that she'd be in the middle of the fucking desert, basking in the Palm Springs sun and trying desperately not to daydream about her ex-husband/my biological father. That made me cringe. But this seltzer water was making me cringe harder. After I had finished Satan's can, I crumpled up the aluminum and tossed it into the nearby bin. Outside, it was too damn hot that the sidewalk looked like it was doing the worm to an unkno...